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Los Angeles, CA - TWC - Page 224

post #6691 of 8616
7/13/09 at 12:26pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by slickshoes View Post

Tyrant, any luck after my suggestion ??

It didn't work. Thanks for the suggestion though.
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Gear mentioned in this thread:

post #6692 of 8616
7/15/09 at 7:31pm
Just got a letter from TWC West Valley to all CableCard customers stating all the HD channels minus the premiums and networks will be shifted to SDV. Also moving are a lot of the Spanish and Asian-language SD channels. Hopefully this means we'll be getting some more HD channels in a couple months...
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post #6693 of 8616
7/16/09 at 8:25pm
I hope the switch to SDV will mean that TWC can get rid of the compression that causes nasty artifacts on all of the HD channels. In Simi Valley, the quality seems to be getting worse rather than better.
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post #6694 of 8616
7/17/09 at 6:14am
Quote:
Originally Posted by grkin View Post

I hope the switch to SDV will mean that TWC can get rid of the compression that causes nasty artifacts on all of the HD channels. In Simi Valley, the quality seems to be getting worse rather than better.

Just out of curiosity, were you "former Adelphia"? Are you using SA equipment or Moto equipment? Did you previously have SA, Moxi, or Moto equipment?

Here in my area of Marina Del Rey ("former Comcast") we are part of a Moto infrastucture and have always had Motorola boxes... STB or DVR. I've never really noticed a problem with quality on the "high-end" HD channels (i.e. the primary ones which have been available since the start).

As far as quality for the more recently born and more recently available additional HD channels on the greatly expanded HD channel list, well I probably ascribe as much of the blame for lousy artifacts and picture quality as much to the broadcaster as anywhere else. Certainly any channel which is willing to put out stretch-o-vision can't be expected to give one hoot about "HD quality".

In other words, unless it is clearly the fault of re-compression (and reduced bit rates, to fit within infrastructure bandwidth limits) from the originally provided broadcast by TWC, then the true fault for lousy quality has to start at the beginning: from channels who don't care that they provide stretch-o-vision, believe that their viewers "can't tell the difference", upconvert SD content and call it HD, send out 2-channel stereo instead of DD5.1, etc. I myself have observed that FXHD broadcasts are horrible when fast motion is involved (e.g. "Nip/Tuck", "Rescue Me", etc.) but ok when the image is stationary. Couldn't this be crummy encoding on the part of FX?

There's probably shared blame at work here, because I do believe reports of people with Tivo recorders claiming "smaller file sizes" for recordings via TWC than OTA (which is certainly shameful for local network broadcasts).
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post #6695 of 8616
7/17/09 at 7:37am
Thread Starter 
during weather on the local evening news on both KCBS DT and KABC DT I see picture degradation via cable on multiple occasions which never appear ota.
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post #6696 of 8616
7/17/09 at 12:07pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by DougDingle View Post

I see "true" (camera original) uncompressed HD almost every day on very expensive (>$20K) monitors and projectors, and the only thing that comes even close to reproducing that quality at home is the rare well-authored BluRay disk.

The highly compressed "good enough" stuff being fed from antennas, cable, fiber, satellite, Amazon, Netflix, etc. is utter junk in comparison. All those providers are trying to squeeze 200 lbs. of manure into a 5 lb. bag.

As long as people settle for crap, crap is what they'll get.

I agree. I also see REAL HD on set all the time and nothing even comes close on CABLE or DISH or FIBER... Very Sad... :'(

Most of the BluRay I have seen don't look any better than a normal DVD ether... I gave up trying to find the good ones...
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post #6697 of 8616
7/18/09 at 12:48pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by DSperber View Post

Just out of curiosity, were you "former Adelphia"? Are you using SA equipment or Moto equipment? Did you previously have SA, Moxi, or Moto equipment?

Here in my area of Marina Del Rey ("former Comcast") we are part of a Moto infrastucture and have always had Motorola boxes... STB or DVR. I've never really noticed a problem with quality on the "high-end" HD channels (i.e. the primary ones which have been available since the start).

As far as quality for the more recently born and more recently available additional HD channels on the greatly expanded HD channel list, well I probably ascribe as much of the blame for lousy artifacts and picture quality as much to the broadcaster as anywhere else. Certainly any channel which is willing to put out stretch-o-vision can't be expected to give one hoot about "HD quality".

In other words, unless it is clearly the fault of re-compression (and reduced bit rates, to fit within infrastructure bandwidth limits) from the originally provided broadcast by TWC, then the true fault for lousy quality has to start at the beginning: from channels who don't care that they provide stretch-o-vision, believe that their viewers "can't tell the difference", upconvert SD content and call it HD, send out 2-channel stereo instead of DD5.1, etc. I myself have observed that FXHD broadcasts are horrible when fast motion is involved (e.g. "Nip/Tuck", "Rescue Me", etc.) but ok when the image is stationary. Couldn't this be crummy encoding on the part of FX?

There's probably shared blame at work here, because I do believe reports of people with Tivo recorders claiming "smaller file sizes" for recordings via TWC than OTA (which is certainly shameful for local network broadcasts).

DSperber,

I am in a former Adelphia area. I originally had a Moxi DVR. Now I have a Motorola 3416.

My broadcast HD channels -- and most of the other HD channels -- looked great until September of last year, when the first round of new HD channels were added. This leads me to believe that the artifacts are a bandwidth or compression issue. Friends and relatives of mine, who live in Simi Valley, Chatsworth, Santa Clarita and Camarillo, noticed the same degradation of quality starting last September.

An engineer from TWC came to my house recently to see the artifacts on recordings I had saved on my DVR. He said he had never heard of the problem before, so I gave him copies of several posts from this forum. He didn't offer any solution, and he never got back to me.

The quality of my HD channels -- broadcast or otherwise -- is absolutely terrible now, with multiple incidents of nasty artifacts during every half hour or one hour show. Personally, I rather have fewer HD channels with excellent quality than more channels with crappy quality, which is what I have now.

-Gary
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post #6698 of 8616
7/19/09 at 1:14pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by grkin View Post



The quality of my HD channels -- broadcast or otherwise -- is absolutely terrible now, with multiple incidents of nasty artifacts during every half hour or one hour show. Personally, I rather have fewer HD channels with excellent quality than more channels with crappy quality, which is what I have now.

-Gary

This, plus the loss of HD-Net and HD-Net Movies was why I left TWC after 20+ years and switched to Verizon FIOS last month.

Best TV related move I ever made. NO picture quality problems, lower price and more HD channels. Can watch recorded DVR movies on any box in the house.

Plus this weekend they activated their media manager that lets you listen to the PC's music, view pictures and now watch PC movies in a wide variety of formats--flv, avi, etc

I loved my MOXI box, problems and all, but the FIOS is now a better provider, at least for me.
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post #6699 of 8616
7/19/09 at 4:32pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by greinstein View Post

This, plus the loss of HD-Net and HD-Net Movies was why I left TWC after 20+ years and switched to Verizon FIOS last month.

This would be a no-brainer for pretty much everyone, I suspect... if everyone had the option.

Unfortunately FIOS is not available in my area or at least to my building, even though I'm in a Verizon area.

My nephew in Chicago just bought a new house and went with AT&T u-Verse (which was available in his area). Despite quite a horror story getting the whole thing installed (phone, plus 6 TVs and 4 computers and whole-house networking for DVR playback), it's apparently now fully operational and compared to Comcast which he previously had he is now absolutely thrilled.

I only wish that I, too, had the option. Oh well. Maybe someday.
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post #6700 of 8616
7/20/09 at 1:21am
Quote:
Originally Posted by greinstein View Post

This, plus the loss of HD-Net and HD-Net Movies was why I left TWC after 20+ years and switched to Verizon FIOS last month.

Best TV related move I ever made. NO picture quality problems, lower price and more HD channels. Can watch recorded DVR movies on any box in the house.

Plus this weekend they activated their media manager that lets you listen to the PC's music, view pictures and now watch PC movies in a wide variety of formats--flv, avi, etc

I loved my MOXI box, problems and all, but the FIOS is now a better provider, at least for me.

Does Fios allow people to put in a zip code and tell them when Fios may be coming to their area? Or is it still just "sorry, Fios is not available in your area".
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post #6701 of 8616
7/20/09 at 6:29pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by lipcrkr View Post

Does Fios allow people to put in a zip code and tell them when Fios may be coming to their area? Or is it still just "sorry, Fios is not available in your area".

Based on personal experience, you will know. Local newspaper flyers, door to door, booths on Main Street, ...
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post #6702 of 8616
7/20/09 at 7:16pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by lipcrkr View Post

Does Fios allow people to put in a zip code and tell them when Fios may be coming to their area? Or is it still just "sorry, Fios is not available in your area".

I have a Verizon phone number and I keep trying it on their site from time to time and it's still not available in my area. I signed up to be notified also. I wish they would come here. They run adds in the local paper but when I search by address or my Verizon phone number nothing.

I get lots of breakups on TWC HD recordings lately. Couple of weeks ago The Closer was terrible. Finally had to watch it on the SD side. I'm still pissed over the HDnet,HDnet Movies thing also.

Jim
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post #6703 of 8616
7/22/09 at 7:12am
No sooner did I ask about getting Navigator on my box and BAM, Navigatored last night. Dare I say, so far I'm pretty impressed with the 5 mins. I played with it before work. VERY fast on my 8300HD box, colors look great, as was already said On Demand looks great too. Version I have is 2.4.4-16. I had tons of "unknown" recordings show up in the recorded list and it said the box was 82% full, I just deleted em' and I'm all good now. I'll play with it during lunch and see what else I see...
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post #6704 of 8616
7/22/09 at 3:38pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Korat View Post

I agree. I also see REAL HD on set all the time and nothing even comes close on CABLE or DISH or FIBER... Very Sad... :'(

Most of the BluRay I have seen don't look any better than a normal DVD ether... I gave up trying to find the good ones...

Haven't seen it myself yet, but I have been given to understand by people whose opinion I value that this one is outstanding:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001CDLATE/
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post #6705 of 8616
7/22/09 at 4:11pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Korat View Post

Most of the BluRay I have seen don't look any better than a normal DVD ether... I gave up trying to find the good ones...

Check out the Bluray PQ Tiers thread for reference quality BRs.
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post #6706 of 8616
7/23/09 at 6:53am
Quote:
Originally Posted by slickshoes View Post

No sooner did I ask about getting Navigator on my box and BAM, Navigatored last night. Dare I say, so far I'm pretty impressed with the 5 mins. I played with it before work. VERY fast on my 8300HD box, colors look great, as was already said On Demand looks great too. Version I have is 2.4.4-16. I had tons of "unknown" recordings show up in the recorded list and it said the box was 82% full, I just deleted em' and I'm all good now. I'll play with it during lunch and see what else I see...

We got it here in El Segundo sometime yesterday or the night before. I didn't know it at the time because when i turned my TV on i was not getting a picture and couldn't bring up any menus or anything. I did notice that the output format on the front display was now indicating 480i where i always had it set to 1080i and my TVs will not accept a 480i signal over HDMI. I checked my other 8300HD and it too was now showing 480i on the front panel and that TV (my oldest plasma) and also would not display a picture or menus.

I called TWC and got a pretty cool CSR and when i asked him if we finally got Navigator he said yes, but that all my settings should have carried over. I asked hime if he had a way for me to change the output resolution using the front buttons and he started giving me the instructions for a Motorola box using buttons that my 8300HD doesn't have, then he realized i don't have a Motorola. He checked his documentation and asked some other people at his office but they couldn't come up with a way for me to change the output resolution using the front buttons. I presume there must be a way but they didn't know, and i couldn't find info on the web (although i didn't look very long). So i asked him if he has the remote key sequence to access the menu and enable the 1080i setting which would get the picture working and he tried to walk me through it from the manual but he apparently wasn't getting the sequence right.

So i hung up and just disconnected the HDMI cable, connected a Component cable, and was able to get a picture and change the setting from 480i to 1080i. Re-installed my HDMI cable and now the TV is getting the signal.

I haven't even explored this new Navigator software that much and i already miss Passport
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post #6707 of 8616
7/23/09 at 12:48pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by motoman View Post

I have a Verizon phone number and I keep trying it on their site from time to time and it's still not available in my area. I signed up to be notified also. I wish they would come here. They run adds in the local paper but when I search by address or my Verizon phone number nothing.

I get lots of breakups on TWC HD recordings lately. Couple of weeks ago The Closer was terrible. Finally had to watch it on the SD side. I'm still pissed over the HDnet,HDnet Movies thing also.

Jim

I am the exact same way. I check verizon's site every now and then, hoping against all odds, they will Fios. I mean, I live in freaking West LA near Bundy & Santa Monica. How much denser of an area do you want?

Please Verizon, PLEASE... I hate TWC, and I will switch the DAY Fios is available to me.
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post #6708 of 8616
7/24/09 at 7:38am
I have a Motorola 6416 (I think thats the model), the one with both analogue and digital tuners. I am forever having to check the future recording list and tell it not to record episodes I've already seen. But more often than not, as soon as I exit the screen, it reschedules these recordings. I therefore am constantly having to delete recordings, and missing shows due to the hard drive always being full.

Is this a common problem? I'm on the verge of trying out Uverse since Fios isn't available in my area. I haven't called TW because I know they will simply have me re-set the box (which I've done many times).
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post #6709 of 8616
7/24/09 at 9:13am
Is Navigator only for the 8300? I'm pretty sure I have the 3416.
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post #6710 of 8616
7/24/09 at 11:31am
Quote:
Originally Posted by leebo View Post

I have a Motorola 6416 (I think thats the model), the one with both analogue and digital tuners. I am forever having to check the future recording list and tell it not to record episodes I've already seen. But more often than not, as soon as I exit the screen, it reschedules these recordings.

Is this a common problem?

I think the software in the older 6416 is pretty guilty on this issue. I know I used to have it (when I had one of those boxes) and my sister in Chicago has the same issue with hers (on Comcast).

The problem is primarily in the Guide Info itself, which may or may not provide "(new)" and which is primarily what the software looks for. However even when this information is present, if it appears on the Info for multiple showings then the software is confounded. Also, if there is no such "(new)" then the software doesn't really have any way at all to decide, and obviously often makes wrong decisions.

I believe the newer DCH-3416 box (which I have) does a much better job of preventing these duplicate recordings from ever happening (although it is still not entirely foolproof). You might consider bringing your old 6416 into TWC and trading for a new 3416 (which is faster and more reliable anyway, and never exhibits the "delayed response" symptom so common on the older hardware/software).

Also, if you record shows that are shown dozens of times a week or day you might consider NOT using the "series" recording method and just manually setting the recording (still using the Guide cells) individually for that show, for that once per day or once per week that you know the first run is on. I realize you'd have to sit down for 10 minutes once every two weeks to do it, but it would probably be worth the effort. Seems like the lesser of the inconveniences. You'd NEVER get duplicates that way, though I realize "series, first-run, on this channel only" should work in an ideal world (assuming Guide info was perfect).
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post #6711 of 8616
7/24/09 at 1:53pm
Moto With Alzheimers

Yes I experince the exact same annoying problem. I take a different approach and mark important shows as only deleted by me, but it is certainly far from an ideal solution.

In my opinion, it is a simple software bug. If you set the box to record only new episodes, it should record only episodes flagged as "new". What is does is record episodes flagged as "new" and episodes without any flag.

An even better solution would be for the box to remember recently deleted episodes, so that it would record the "new" or unflagged episodes, but only if they have not been recently deleted.

I wouldn't hold my breath on a real solution to this one anytime soon.
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post #6712 of 8616
7/25/09 at 10:58am
Thread Starter 
If you're a Time Warner Cable customer and you spot this on your TV:

you can start getting excited. This blue screen of annoyance is a sign of new features to come.

Time Warner Cable's Start Over service. Image from NYTimesBesides the debatable improvement in the program guide, the new Mystro Navigator software, which replaces Passport software in Time Warner's Scientific Atlanta boxes, paves the way for the Look Back, Start Over and switched digital video, all features that Time Warner mentioned to us last year.

These features will let viewers watch a TV show they didn't record for a day or two after its initial broadcast, or restart a show if you tune in after it already began. Time Warner, essentially, is upgrading its on-demand service and creating a networked DVR, allowing for some shows to be stored at the company's offices rather than the home DVR box itself. Though there are unwanted consequences for some users (see earlier story, More HD channels coming to cable TV, TiVo users impacted), this also means customers will get a massive on-demand library of current TV shows they can view at the touch of their remote.

It's going to create a system for bandwidth to open up for more HD channels and it's going to prepare us for the services we're going to be introducing, Start Over and Look Back, said Darryl Ryan, a Time Warner Cable spokesman.

Exactly when? Ryan doesn't know or he won't say. He'll only say, It's still in development and should be coming very very soon. But when we first learned that the features were coming, Time Warner gave us a mid-2009 launch date (strum fingers repeatedly).

Mystro software coming to Time Warner Cable.The Mystro software began rolling out to Southern California customers last year, Ryan said. Those of us getting it now should be on the tail end of receipt, though Ryan won't confirm.

My personal experience is that when Time Warner surreptitiously updated my HD-DVR box yesterday, I was stuck staring at the blue DO NOT POWER OFF YOUR BOX screen for more than eight hours! Apparently, that was a local problem. Ryan said that the upgrade shouldn't take more than 20 minutes. If customers do experience issues, it could be old wiring or some other specific reason. Those customers should call for help, at 888-TWCABLE. The update works fine for me today.

While I haven't heard of any upgrade issues from readers, there's a lot of debate online about the good but mostly the bad of Mystro. Google, for example, hasn't been kind to Mystro and its top search results focus on how terrible Mystro is. There are complaints about the box freezing, not being ready for prime time and even a video showing how lousy Mystro is.

Time Warner's Mystro software offers DVR capacity indicator.

But customers can instantly look forward to other new features: On-screen caller ID for those with phone service, a DVR storage capacity indicator (see image on right yup, I keep my DVR that full), and ability to view recorded shows by name or date. I haven't fully checked out all the new features, but I noticed that blogger Selfish Mom offers an overview.

Mystro has been waiting for its public debut for a very long time. The technology, touted as TV's first server-based, time-shifting service (in essence, the first TV-recording technology that stored recorded programs on the TV provider's servers rather than on a home DVR box), has been around since at least 2001, when Cable Hall of Fame inductee Jim Chiddix founded the company (see the article, Fiber and a Charmed Career from Communications Technology) while working for Time Warner. I first mentioned the feature in an article in 2007, What's next for TV service.

But it's taken sooooo long to roll out. A big delay has been in getting permission from the TV stations to rebroadcast shows. But that appears to be resolved. Start Over and Look Back features started rolling out in 2006 in areas like New York, so we can get a glimpse of channels that will let us really Start Over:

NY1 , Nickelodeon, CNBC, USA, Syfy, VH1, Cartoon Network, truTV, Spike TV, BET, Comedy Central, Oxygen, TV Land, G4, Boomerang, SOAPnet, MTV2, Noggin, Nicktoons Network, CMT (Country Music Television), LOGO, The Movie Channel, Fox Movie Channel, Showtime HD, Starz HD, Encore HD, NY1 HD, WCBS HDTV, TNT HD, WNYW HD, TBS HD, WWOR HD, CNN HD, Palladia HD, FX HD, ABC Family HD, History HD, Fox News HD, A&E HD, Disney HD, Food Network HD, BIO HD, HGTV HD, National Geographic HD, SPEED HD, Animal Planet HD, Travel Channel HD, and Versus/Golf HD

Then there was an issue with a cable company storing TV shows at its offices instead of on a home user's DVR. This was resolved earlier this year when Cablevision won a lawsuit filed by the TV networks allowing the cable company to offer the networked DVR service.

Let's hope that the Start Over and Look Back service is worth waiting for. Cox, Orange County's other cable TV provider, is also rolling out switched digital video and currently offers several prime-time shows on demand (see the earlier Time Warner Cable looking more like Hulu).

For Recent Time Warner Cable news check out the Gadgetress Guide to local TV services http://gadgetress.freedomblogging.co...ervices-in-oc/
http://gadgetress.freedomblogging.co...-record/17715/
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post #6713 of 8616
7/25/09 at 11:31am
Thread Starter 
More HD channels coming to cable TV, TiVo users impacted
Switched video adapters for TiVo.

Sooner than later, Orange County cable TV customers may notice a lot more high-definition channels.

This is not an easy task, by the way. Cable providers have struggled to offer more HD channels because their aging systems are near capacity. Now, thanks to new technology called switched digital video, they have figured out how to get more room: Stop broadcasting every single channel 24/7.

By turning some of the least popular channels into on-demand channels, cable companies can use that newly opened space to squeeze in more HD channels. Channels that do go switched digital are still accessible. But there may be a slight delay after turning to that channel, as the cable box sends the request back to the main station. The delay should be just a split second and unnoticeable to viewers, the cable companies say.

But one reader from Yorba Linda, who uses a CableCARD and TiVo to watch cable TV, alerted me that some switching might be going on in his neighborhood. He woke up one day to find very few channels showing up on his TV — Food TV yes, but not the HD version; no Bravo and absolutely no HBO. A Time Warner customer service representative mentioned to him the cable provider was switching to this new technology.

I checked with both local cable companies — Time Warner Cable and Cox Communications — and both plan to implement this technology. But Time Warner has not yet. Cox, however, is testing it out in Orange County.

“While our current network infrastructure is powerful, we know our customers want more from their Cox digital services,” said Cox spokeswoman Lana Ong. ”In order to provide our customers with new services and more HD channels, we’re currently using switched digital technology — this is transparent to our customers. Switched digital allows Cox to maximize our network capacity and offer more services including a variety of digital and HD channels to our customers.”

Cox is using switched video on about 90 channels in Orange County. Affected are some pay-per-view channels, foreign language channels and some digital channels, like FitTV and Jewelry TV, Ong said.

COX UPDATE, July 9, 2009: Since the cable provider is testing the TiVo adapter, they are not yet available. But when they are, Cox will be contacting customers to let them know an adpater is availalb e for free to eligible customers.

Time Warner, which has a special page dedicated to the topic, has not started switched video in Orange County but is testing it in part of the San Fernando Valley.

TiVo It’s all good. Unless you’re a TiVo user who watches cable via a CableCARD, a thick credit-card-like device that slides into TiVos or other computer to decrypt the cable signal. Affected TiVos are TiVo Series 3 DVR, TiVo HD DVR and the TiVo HD XL DVR.

The problem with TiVo/CableCARDs and switched video is that switched video requires two-way communication — the user requests the channel, the cable company delivers. But cable cards are one way. If a cable system goes switched video, a TiVo user will see nothing on those channels, as was the case last year in Hawaii when Time Warner began testing the service. (Read: Time Warner Cable plans more channels in O.C. despite fines. The fines, by the way, were later lifted).

“It is just important that any customer requesting a CableCARD understand that some of our channels are being delivered using technology known as Switch Digital Video,” said Darryl Ryan, a Time Warner spokesman, said that TiVo customers could get a free set-top box.
“This means the current generation of devices like TVs and TiVos even though they have CableCARDs, they were not designed to receive any service delivered using the Switch Digital Video technology. So, it is best to (request a) set-top box to be able to access all the services and channels we offer such as Video On Demand, Pay Per View, guide channel and On Demand,” Ryan said.

Of course, that would defeat the purpose of having a TiVo and CableCARD.

But there’s an easy, simple fix from both companies: A free adapter, which became available last fall. Time Warner, which says it has plenty, plans to offer them to TiVo users when the technology launches (You can order an adapter HERE). Cox also has an external tuning adapter that will be free to TiVo users with CableCARDs, but Ong adds, “We are currently in testing mode.”

Switched video adapters for TiVo.

TiVo’s Jim Denny, vice president of product marketing, said that TiVo has been working with various cable providers nationwide to offer a tuning adapter that turns a TiVo with CableCARD into a two-way device.

“If there are reports of it being out of stock, I will escalate that to our (cable TV) corporate contact,” Denny said. “What a TiVo subscriber should also do is call our customer support and say, ‘Hey, I’m trying to get a TiVo adapter.’ … Our motivation is to get (potential and existing TiVo subscribers) through this.”

Back to the Yorba Linda reader, we figured out that switched video wasn’t the problem. Time Warner told him it was auditing CableCARDs and sent a technician to his house to take the serial number and re-input the cards. It took 90 minutes to do four cards. Everything is now working, reports the relieved yet frustrated reader.

This story was edited from the original version published here on July 3, 2009.

Around the web:

Company sites:

* Switched Digital Video - Will it impact you? (TiVo) http://support.tivo.com/app/answers/...lkLzhhQmxoVkJq
* Switched Digital Video Tuning Adapter FAQ (CableLabs) http://www.cablelabs.com/udcp/downlo...dapter-FAQ.pdf
* How to install a Tuning Adapter for switched digital video (TiVo) http://support.tivo.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/133
* Time Warner’s guide to Switched Video (Time Warner Cable) http://www.timewarnercable.com/SoCal...v/default.html
* Order a switched video adapter from Time Warner (Time Warner Cable) http://www.timewarnercable.com/SoCal.../ordersdv.html

News:

* Current State of Switched Digital Video (SDV) and CableCard compatibility (Green Button Forum for Windows Media Center users) http://thegreenbutton.com/forums/1/2...howThread.aspx
* TiVo and cable industry unveil Switched Digital Video workaround (CNET’s Crave) http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-9823095-1.html
* FCC Vacates SDV Rulings Against Time Warner Cable, Cox (Multichannel News) http://www.multichannel.com/article/..._Cable_Cox.php


Check out the Gadgetress Guide to local TV services http://gadgetress.freedomblogging.co...ervices-in-oc/
http://gadgetress.freedomblogging.co...mpacted/16527/
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post #6714 of 8616
7/25/09 at 12:12pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by DSperber View Post

I think the software in the older 6416 is pretty guilty on this issue. I know I used to have it (when I had one of those boxes) and my sister in Chicago has the same issue with hers (on Comcast).

The problem is primarily in the Guide Info itself, which may or may not provide "(new)" and which is primarily what the software looks for.

I am aware of that issue, but that is not what I'm talking about.

Go to scheduled recordings for any given day (Menu/DVR/Future Recordings).

Tell the software, "Do not record this specific showing". The program name remains, but the "record" icon has a line through it, signifying it will not be recorded.
Exit the screen.

Go back to scheduled recordings, and that program now shows that it will indeed be recorded after all. "Screw what you want, Mr. subscriber." "We're doing things my way!!!"

What I'm saying is, I am un-able to cancel a scheduled recording other than deleting a series recording.

Yes, I could set recordings by date, time, and channel, but sometimes showtimes are changed. Besides, why am I paying TW $10 a month? I could just go back to using a VCR.
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post #6715 of 8616
7/25/09 at 3:52pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by leebo View Post

Go to scheduled recordings for any given day (Menu/DVR/Future Recordings).

Tell the software, "Do not record this specific showing". The program name remains, but the "record" icon has a line through it, signifying it will not be recorded.
Exit the screen.

Go back to scheduled recordings, and that program now shows that it will indeed be recorded after all. "Screw what you want, Mr. subscriber." "We're doing things my way!!!"

What I'm saying is, I am un-able to cancel a scheduled recording other than deleting a series recording.

I assume you're talking about a particular recording for a "series" recording which you are unable to actually inhibit (which certainly should end up with the red "series record" icon with the line through it)? Or are you just talking about any random one-off show recording which you are unable to actually inhibit (expecting it to disappear entirely)?

Can you give a specific example of what you're talking about? I, myself, have no such similar experience using the DCH-3416. I've never not been able to successfully prevent any series-scheduled individual recording from recording and have it stay that way even after exiting the dialog and re-entering to investigate. But I do recall having similar issues at my sister's DCT-6416 machine (Comcast) in Chicago, when trying to prevent extraneous episodes of "Rescue Me" from recording on FXHD.


Quote:


Yes, I could set recordings by date, time, and channel, but sometimes showtimes are changed. Besides, why am I paying TW $10 a month? I could just go back to using a VCR.

I'm not suggesting you use date, time and channel to schedule the recording. Completely unnecessary and obviously undesirable.

What I'm suggesting is that you just DO NOT SET UP A SERIES RECORDING FOR THE PROBLEM SHOWS, the method which seems to be fraught with software and Guide issues and results in duplicate unwanted recordings and your report about even being unable to inhibit some scheduled recordings.

Instead, just use the Guide approach for convenient one-click creation of a one-off show recording (which you'll do once every two weeks, accomplishing exactly the same result as you really want the "series" event to accomplish but without any errors or unwanted duplicates). Open up the Guide, find the show (e.g. on Monday night for "Weeds") and navigate to its Guide cell, push the Select button on that show to get into the control dialog for that show, and then push the REC icon to initiate the record dialog FOR THAT ONE SHOW.

I realize this one-off approach does not deal with some pre-emptions, some time changes after you've set the recording event, etc. You'll have to deal with that yourself (assuming you hear about any change). Also, it requires that you make your own decision as to whether or not to record the show depending on whether it's a repeat or not, etc. But at least it does handle length and starting/ending oddities (assuming the Guide Info is correct for that cell and gets updated to reflect the scheduling change applicable for the cell which has the recording set) for unusual presentations. It just doesn't handle all late Guide changes automatically if the network makes an after-the-fact adjustment and did manage to get it into the updated Guide info sometime later... which would be automatically dealt with by the "series recording" software... though it probably will handle most late schedule changes that keep the show in that cell. Also, remember that even "series recording" will miss a show that gets moved to a different night for some special reason if that change does not make it into an updated Guide so that it can be seen by the software in the box.

So in the absence of perfect Guide Info and software in the box, it's your choice. Deal with unwanted duplicate recordings (and possible drive filling) from "series recording" flaws, or deal with what I feel are very minor and rare inconveniences by doing the "one-off single-click individual recording scheduling from the Guide cells every two weeks" and run the one-in-a-million risk of losing a show that gets shifted to a different night at the last minute (any changes to the scheduled show on the same night will still automatically be handled even by the one-off method).

I think we're both agreed that these "series recording" issues only affect series that are presented multiple times throughout the week. There is no problem for once-only-per-week series (e.g. "So You Think You Can Dance") where using the "series recording" technique works flawlessly.


Again, I do believe the DCH-3416 is much better (and faster, and more reliable) than the DCT-6416 and has the same hard drive capacity. So I still recommend you ask TWC to switch boxes, and I'm sure you'll be somewhat happier.
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post #6716 of 8616
7/26/09 at 9:27am
Quote:
Originally Posted by DSperber View Post

I assume you're talking about a particular recording for a "series" recording which you are unable to actually inhibit (which certainly should end up with the red "series record" icon with the line through it)? Or are you just talking about any random one-off show recording which you are unable to actually inhibit (expecting it to disappear entirely)?

Yes, the former (series recordings). The one's like "Monk" that are repeated several time during the week (or even on the same day). I go through future recordings and attempt to delete scheduled recordings of shows I've already watched. Exit the menu. Return to check and the scheduled recordings have changed from the line through it to the full red dot.

As for your suggestion of scheduling my shows on a weekly basis rather than schedule a series recording, that "one-in-a-million risk" is mush higher in my case due to my horrible memory.

I will attempt to switch boxes after I finish viewing what I have already recorded. Guess I better do it b4 September!
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post #6717 of 8616
7/26/09 at 4:19pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by leebo View Post

Yes, I could set recordings by date, time, and channel, but sometimes showtimes are changed. Besides, why am I paying TW $10 a month? I could just go back to using a VCR.

Not once you get Navigator /Dan
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post #6718 of 8616
7/26/09 at 6:03pm
for some reason i can only record local channels through firewire now. i recorded the ESPYs fine last week from ESPN onto my computer but now only locals work. i have a motorola dch-3200 box.

*EDIT*
seems like TWC is encrypting all the channels that arent local now. terrible.
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post #6719 of 8616
7/27/09 at 10:30am
Quote:
Originally Posted by danki6x View Post

Not once you get Navigator /Dan

I thought Navigator was only coming to SA boxes?
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post #6720 of 8616
7/27/09 at 12:16pm
Thread Starter 
Currently TWC does not have a specific time for introducing Navigator for Motorola boxes but are working to launch it as soon as possible hopefully before December but there is no specific date.
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