Rochester, NY - HDTV - Page 75

Well with 2 hard reboots today, I assume that the latest software update has not helped.

I had to do one this morning to fix the unable to record problem. Just now, It locked up trying to play a show that was recorded last week... So much for progress.

The latest software upgrade is helping my cable box because it's not slowing down or freezing which would happen every other week before the update. Maybe the problem is your box & not the software.

like nascar said it probably is your box....i would exchange it for a 8300HD..its the fastest one they offer thats not one of thier Newest boxes thats like impossible to get. The 8300HD doesnt run on a cable card...so its like WAY faster.

Just try to go early or you will be waiting forever...at least at the mt. hope location...it was NUTS when i went.i waited for like an hour. quite an experience.

It is an 8300 hd. I do not want to exchange for something worse! The Webster and ER offices are usually deserted.

The East Rochester office is really busy around 9 am most days. My 8300HD is working much better after the update

Actually, the reason that the 8300HD is faster than the 8300HDC is that it runs completely different software. The earlier boxes ran MDN software which is MUCH more efficient than the Java based ODN software used with the "C" boxes. When Scientific Atlanta added the CableCARD they added sufficient memory to run a new industry-wide software known as OCAP. There was lots of stuff that cable wanted to do (like customized advertising when you fast forwarded) that lead to the development of OCAP. But, fortunately, the older (non-C) gear just didn't have the capacity to run OCAP, so TW had to develop a more efficient (machine language) software for them.

The later Cisco boxes (like the 8742HDC that I now have) do have faster processors and, for the most part, are up to the speed of the 8300HDs running MDN.

One BIG difference between the MDN boxes (8300HD) and ODN boxes is that MDN supports external hard drives while ODN has been very flaky in supporting external drives. The 8742s have 500GB drives, but they are often reserved for Multi-Room installations (that's what I have). It may be that the only way to get a 8742 is to get one from a service tech (ie: don't think that they have them in the offices). So, one strategy is get a service call for a "bad box" and convince the tech to leave a 8742 (if you can). Another would be to upgrade to multi-room, then after a month take one box back and downgrade service back to a single DVR.

Great idea Dave! Is it reliable, meaning no need to reboot and records everything it is supposed to record? Does it have component out? I'm still splitting my component to 4 tvs. Some day I will get an hdmi splitter.

So far (7 months) it is (they are) quite reliable. Only output that it is missing is S-Video. Still has RF out, composite out, component out, L-R analog audio out & digital audio out.

PS: I did run across one issue, that was resolved by a follow-up tech visit: It apparently needs to send a somewhat higher return signal than the 8300HD. I initially had a problem with some SDV channels and On Demand.

The Mt Hope location is pretty much always busy. Like I said before, I’m there every Wednesday from around 10-11AM for work. Today was the first time in the year I’ve been going there that the Cable Store part of the facility wasn’t jam packed. And, to put it gently, you do have quite the interesting mix of cliental at that location.

Just by the powers of observation most people that walk out with cable boxes at Mt Hope are given either 8300HDs, 8300HDCs or 8242HDCs, I can’t tell which, but their the old silver boxes SA boxes. I’ve never seen anyone leave with a Samsung or newer Cisco box. Infact, I tried 3 or 4 times to get an 8742HDC from that office, since I’m there anyhow, it was convenient, with no luck. Last month, I had a tech out to replace a cable line and as the tech was walking out the door I said something about the 8742, he said he had one on his van and asked me if I wanted it. My eyes lit up and I said yeah. So he swapped my bedroom 8642 for the 8742 and I still have an 8642 in the living room. I also never had any luck getting a DOCSIS 3/Phone Modem combo unit from Mt Hope or Brockport after trying many times. I ended up getting the Arris Touchstone TG856G from one of the Buffalo offices.

wow steve lucky you on getting that box....and yeah the whole time i was there i did see alot of people walking out with all the silver boxes...i called before i arrived and i knew they had 7 of the samsung ones in stock but i didnt want it...i wanted speed. I had came from a 8240HDC...it was horrible.

anybody here have center ice? I was watching some games via the free preview currently, and the HD signal had TONS of interference last night. SD signal was ok, but still had some stutters.

Are others observing the same problems?

NHL Network and NBCSports seemed to be coming in fine.

Yes, I noticed the same thing on opening weekend. Tons of pixelation and audio dropouts on all of the NHL Center Ice HD channels. A few days later they were fine, or at least what I saw was, but I haven't tuned in to CI in the fast few nights. One thing though, I know the Sabres feed of MSG HD hasn't traditionally had the best picture quality, but it's amazing how much better the NHL CI channels look, when they're not pixelating, that is. I wish Time Warner would move to 100% MPEG 4.

That wouldn't improve this situation at all - it would only allow them to put more channels on a given QAM. The problem is that the legacy boxes (8300s, etc.) do not have MPEG4 capability - so they need to get rid of these boxes first (and they don't seem to be moving that way).

Unfortunately I'm a Rangers fan, and am always disgruntled when the Sabres take over MSG (and that we no longer get MSG+ -or was it MSG2, I forget)

Sabres are my #2 tho, helps that they are in a different division

And once the Isles move to brooklyn, they'll be #3 (altho Potvin still sucks.... )

also, tried recording The Americans on FX tonight, recording failed 2x. Just restarted the dvr (samsung 3270 i think), lets see if it can handle the 1am showing.

hrm, rebooting the box seems to have worked. I've had to reboot this cable box too many times lately. Is it defective, or does the samsung box just suck? I was excited at first to get it, as I figured it had to be better than the 8300. Am I incorrect in thinking that?

Not necessarily! It depends on the 8300 box: If it was a 8300HD, you would be wrong, but if it was a 8300HDC you would be right. The "C" means a CableCard box. The older, non-CableCard boxes run efficient MDN software, while the "C" boxes run much less efficient ODN software.

Well, I am certainly getting a little tired of having to reboot this box (2 times in the past week). Might have to make a trip to the TW store for an exchange. What's the best dvr box to ask for right now?

Many folks maintain that the 8300HD (no C) is the best one, but the8742 is the latest (+it has 500GB storage). BUT, the office won't have 8742s. The best thing to do is to call, complain about your problem (don't tell them that you want a new box) and schedule a service call. The Techs usually have the 8742s on their truck and you might be able to talk him/her into swapping your Sammy for that. It also may be that your real problem has noting to do with the box - so have the tech check signal levels.

Worth a shot.

I've found the Samsung needs frequent rebooting as well. I thought it had stabilized since the last software update, but had a few incidents last week that required reboots yet again.

Looks like WBGT has sub channels now. Boy howdy! Tuff.tv and the Country Music channel? Can I get a yee- hah?! Oh, well I guess some people will enjoy it. Rabbitears.info indicates another sub coming?

My 8300 has made 2 short recordings since the software update. Nothing gets logged as a problem since it makes the recording. Both were sdv, comedy central and Fox sports net.

odd double post.... Edited to remove

How can i check the signal strength on my 8240HDC because i can't find it anywhere in the diagnostic menu?

Press and hold down on the Select button on the remote and in a few seconds when the Mail and/or Power Indicator lights start blinking hit the Up arrow button. The frequency info along with the signal levels are displayed for both tuners on the first page.

Thanks. I'll try it later.

Here we go again tw customers. Our bill's are going up next month. Digital cable is increasing to $85.50. Standard Cable is increasing to $82.99. Basic Lifeline cable will increase to $14.99. Cable, Internet & Phone Plans will increase by $3 each depending on the plan. The cost of a cable box will remain at $7.99 & the remote will remain at $0.50. Cable Cards will increase to $2.50 each. Dish & DirecTV has already seen similar increases in January.

Source: http://thedailynewsonline.com/news/article_ddad20e4-798f-11e2-8919-0019bb2963f4.html

woot! 46.2 is now ThisTV..that's at least useful! Maybe someday de-evolution TV on 46.3 will change

Hi Video Bruce,

I am very interested any local station in Canada that carries the Global TV network. I live in Rochester sort of close to Sea Breeze and I was wondering what kind of antenna you are using to pick up that fussy Global channel? And do you think if you bought one of those advertised power UHF antennas or something similar that you would possibly be able to clearly pick up Toronto or some other Canadian city's local digital off air channel that would carry that Global channel you talked about? Also, I would think that off those local Canadian TV channels that you might be able to pick up some hockey network channels like TSN as well?