Orlando, FL - BHN - Page 12

Those Sony remotes should be burned, including that horrid touchscreen model they make. Get an MX or a Harmony.

Even the 600 is not programmable (it is basically a RF verison of the 500). The 700 and 800 are PC progammable. FYI, there is an after market device and software for about $80 called IRClone-MX that allows you to backup and program your MX-500/600 to/from a PC. This place sells the HTM MX-500 and the IRClone stuff for $173. If you are OK with a fairly large remote this is a pretty good choice. IMO it is a good idea to get a remote that can be progammed from a PC if you are doing anything beyond a simple configuration. It would be a real drag to spend hours and hours to perfect your config only to lose it and have no backup.

I recently looked at the functionality of the Harmony H659. It looks like a good choice also, especially at the discounted price mentioned in the previous post. I looked at the Harmony remotes a year or 2 ago and they were way over priced and didn't have near enough buttons. Their newer models appear to be much better and less expensive.

Jay

Barry that would be great if you could post that Excel sheet.
I have the 600, I have all my equipment programmed but haven't
programmed any macros or punch thru

Here is the excel planner for the theater master remote.

 

mx500planner.zip 10.9765625k . file

I have an SA 3250HD with firewire. I picked it up last week, but forgot the power cord so had to go back this week so I could actually plug it in.

It works just the same as the 3100 for watching HDTV. However it is not recognised by my JVC 30000 DVHS machine. That just shows I- on the display. If I unplug the firewire from the 3250 and wire in my Panasonic ATSC tuner, the JVC recognises that as I-1. So here are some questions for the group.

1. There are two firewire connectors. Was the CSR correct in telling me that the one nearest the edge of the receiver is the active one?
2. Does the firewire need to be activated by Brighthouse? If so what do I ask for?
3. Is there a 3250 menu to switch to firewire? I can't find a menu that refers to firewire.
4. A Brighthouse engineer told me that the component outputs would switch off when the firewire is active. IS that correct? My component outputs have been on 100% of the time.

George,

1. Both firewire connectors are active.
2. No, the firewire is active.
3. No, however the firewire output does not display menus at all.
4. Not sure. All outputs should be active simultaneously. The DVI works at the same time as the firewire.

Its more important to power up the devices in the correct order. Power up the JVC first. Don't plug in anything else when you are troubleshooting the 3250 and the JVC.

I have the 3250hd
Firewire is active for all digital channels unless record never is enabled for that channel.
Most of the HD channels require a receiver that is 5C enabled.
Firewire and component are active at same time
Both firewire ports are active

I've had Dish Network for 5 1/2 years. I recently decided to switch to Brighthouse cable so I could actually use my DVHS VCR. When I scheduled the install, I explained exactly what I needed and confirmed TWICE that the installers would come out with a box that had the 1394/Firewire port. This morning they show up and they have the PACE box. No 1394 port. When I asked them about it they had no idea what I was talking about (no surprise).

So what do I do? Do I call Brighthouse and let them know what I need and have them send someone else out or can I just drop by a Brighthouse office and exchange the PACE box for the 3250HD? What is the 3250 like? What channels will I be able to record via the Firewire port?

Of the people that have the 3250HD and use the firewire output -
Is there any noticeable improvement/difference in the picture quality?

Cloudscout,

The 3250 is so specialized most BHN staff will not have any idea what you are talking about. You need to have the workorder say SA3250HD so the special box gets loaded on the installers truck. Try one more time to call BHN and if they are acting confused then PM Greg McLaughlin on this forum to help with your order.


Samsterdog,

The difference between firewire and DVI would not be noticeable but the improvement over analog component is worth the upgrade.

Thanks, Barry.

I talked to someone from BHN on the phone earlier this afternoon and they said they were going to get the information and call me back. Two hours later they hadn't called me back so I just took it upon myself to head up to the Altamonte location to see if I could do a swap there. The person said they didn't have that box right now and that I should call in the morning to see if they could get it for me.

I called BHN back and talked to someone who seemed to know exactly what I was talking about. She said I could head to the All American location and they'd swap it out for me there. When I got there, the line was really long and after 20 minutes I get to the window and the woman had no clue what I was talking about. They swore up and down that there was no such thing as the 3250HD.

I left BHN and called customer service again. The person I talked to said she had never heard of such a box but after I explained what I had gone through she said she would research it and call me back right away. She called back and said that, yes, they have that box but that they couldn't swap it out for me at the BHN office, they would have to actually send an installer out to swap it out for me. She said they couldn't get anyone out here before Friday which sucks because I head out of town on Wednesday and won't be back for two weeks. When I told her that, she said she was going to talk to a supervisor to see if they could get someone here tomorrow somehow.

With all of this hassle, I'm beginning to regret my decision to leave Dish Network.

Thanks for the info Barry. I have a Mits 65909 w/ Firewire, but w/o DVI, so I have been interested in this box for a while. I was thinking of holding out for the HD PVR, and would still like it (although I don't know whether it will have Firewire), but I'd also like to check out the diff over component. I had been communicating with Greg, via PM, about getting a 3250 before the 4/1 deadline, but when there was a delay in release, and it seemed like the HD PVR would be out shortly, I told him I'd wait. With the HD PVR not due until at least September, I think I'll contact BH to get a 3250.

One more question, if I may: My current 3200(?) does not give a preview while on HD channels, but I have seen a neighbor's Pace box that does. Does the 3250 do preview in HD mode?

My SA3250 HD set top box is now works so thanks everyone for the help.
My problem was that I just did not get everything right at the same time.
Once I
1. Powered on the JVC first and tuned to the I- input
2. Connect the firewire from JVC to the cable box
3. Tuned to a digital channel
the SA box was recognised.

I think my main problem was that the SA box was set to default to channel 2 after a power cycle, so after my first power cycle/reboot when trying to make things work, I was on an analog channel, and had no idea that the firewire is not supposed to connect in that configuration.

To Cloudscout,
I was able to swap out my SA3100HD for an SA 3250HD at the BHN counter in Melbourne. No lines to get to the counter there. The counter representative at first denied there was a 3250HD box, but was helpful enough to call an engineer who told her the procedure to get one out of the warehouse. Since there were none ready, they had to download their BHN software to it before it was ready to give to me, so I did have to wait 45 minutes for the box to appear. (I actually went for lunch while it was ogt ready). Things went very smoothly. I think I was also helped behind the scenes by Greg, since I had alerted him on what I was doing. Greg is always a great help.

Which channels are you able to record from? I'm sure you can record all the local channels but can you record any of the others like Discovery HD or TNT HD or HBO and Showtime HD? How about INHD or HDNet?

If the device you are using to record is HDCP compliant then you may record any HD channel that is flagged "copy always" and "copy once". You may not record channels flagged copy never which I believe right now only applies to the PPV channels. Since BHN does not yet have HD PPV you should be able to record all the current HD channels.

Summer? Time for a new thread......

Im in Orlando. Bright House just installed my "Pace" box whatever that means, and now I do get preview in HD mode. If you call them they will come out and install one in your house.

My problem is that the HD picture keeps dropping out now. Sigh, I have to call them back.

Also, I don't see the 1394 on this thing. I do see a usb port on the front. Firewire was one of the reasons I had them put it in. Am I missing something? Perhaps the phone rep thought DVI and firewire were the same thing?

Anyway, does anyone know if you can capture HDTV from these "Pace" boxes? Either to a VCR? or to a HTPC? Also, the Pace is different from the 3250? TIA

Brighthouse HD hardware

SA3100HD component analog video output only

SA3250HD component analog, DVI and firewire capability

DC-550HD component analog or DVI

Most BHN HD customers use the original 3100HD but if you have a DVI input on your display you can qualify for the PACE 550. The 3250HD is the only current firewire solution but BHN has a very small supply of these boxes.

DVI video cannot be recorded on any device so your only HD recording solutions for cable remain the firewire 3250 output to a HDCP compatible device like HD-VHS or the long awaited HD DVR.

Wow, thanks for the quick reply Barry. Then what about this article I read that cable operators need to supply a firewire enabled cable box to anyone who asks? Will they give me one of the SA3250HD units?
http://stupidevilbastard.com/index/s...tv_to_your_pc/

Also, the colors are so saturated on my new Pace box, that they are bleeding in to each other. Of course, part of the problem is that the colors are too hot on my new projector anyway, but this picture looks terrible.

I wonder if it would look better if I connected the DVI on the box to a vga adapter and then in to the vga in on my projector. (my projector does not have a dvi in.)

Oh, and one more thing. I'm trying to watch this race, but the FOX HD channel is off the air for me?! Anyone else have this problem? The ST def Fox channel is working.

Yes, cable companies are required to provide a firewire enabled stb when requested.

The DVI to vga solution does not work due to HDCP.

The problem with WOFL-DT was posted in the other local off air thread. They changed their PSIP tables so you need to do a channel rescan to find the new virtual channel which is now 22.

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...07#post4015007

Wow, thanks again for the instant answers. Guess I need to get on the phone and ask again for a firewire enabled box. (That's what I asked for when they gave me this one.)

Read the previous posts regarding the SA3250HD and you will quickly realize it is so rare that 99% of the staff at BHN does not know it exists. If your work order does not clearly state SA3250HD you will get the wrong box. If you do not have an HDCP capatible recording device it is not going to allow you to record any HD channels except the locals.

This alphabet soup of acronyms is confusing sometimes. I believe what you need to record is a device (i.e. D-VHS deck) that is 5C compliant. HDCP is the copy protecting system for DVI connected devices, not for firewire.

Jay

Jay,

I can always count on you to hang back and watch for me to say anything the slightest bit inaccurate and then jump in and correct me. I am just trying to help people and I do make the assumption they will do a little research on their own but your little correction posts really takes the wind out of my sails. I am DONE answering posts for a while!

Barry,

I'm sorry you feel that way. I'm just trying to help people here also. My posts are in no way intended to be confrontational or directed against you personally. This technology and terminology can be very confusing to all of us from time to time. I can and often do make mistakes or get mixed up when I post something. When I do I would hope that someone would post a followup to clarify or correct it as long as it was done in a courteous manner.

Jay

Well then here is your chance to help people directly. I will hang back and wait for your mistakes then reply in a courteous manner. Enjoy.

Have a happy 4th of July

Happy FFing 4th.

Well, I appreciate the help from both of you. Do either of you know if the SA3250HD will allow me to switch between 4:3 and 16:9?