SA 8300 HD Tips & Tricks -- SARA - Page 18

just to add to what Rod said, if you are recording two shows at the same time, you can do one of three things: watch either one of the shows being recorded, or watch a previously recorded show.

Thanks, Stosh - a more accurate statement of the options.

I have read previously that you could also send a previously recorded program out the archive to VCR connection to an SDTV, so actually have four shows in process at once.

TerryB

Ok, so cannot watch a third show while the 8300 is recording two shows at same time. Now I understand. Hey, wait a minute, these were my wifes shows that were being recorded, seems kinda unfair. Maybe time to add another DVR.
Thanks guys.

Just noticed that I've got the "New First-Run episodes" recording option now. Sara version 1.85.14.1, Phoenix Cox Cable. Just set a couple of recordings, now to see if it actually works.

How do you check the SARA version?

I can use the 8300hd remote (at8400) to operate my Mits just fine except trying to change tv source inputs. When I push the "video source" button on the bottom of the remote while in "tv" mode , I get the device menu screen to come up, but after rotating to the particular source I want to change to, I cannot "enter" it. The "select" button on the remote does not correspond to the tv's "enter" button and there is no other button I can find that acts like an "enter" button for the television. Same thing when using the numbers to direct access a particular channel. The requested channel will come up but hitting select on the 8300 remote will not change to that channel. The tv will eventually change to the requested channel automatically though after a long delay. Bottom line, though , is that I cannot get by using just one remote (at8400) because everytime I want to select a different tv source input I grab the Mits remote to use its enter button to actually switch to the source I want to use. Any workaround for this other than investing in an universal remote that might work everything?

Video Source button on my remote does not work.

Problem with inconsistent HD signal

Received my SA8300 about 2 months ago and love it (even my wife loves it!) I use an HDMI cable (pass-thru) to my sony and optical audio to the surround sound system. Starting Wed night I noticed the box would sometimes not switch to HD signal. If I entered the channel # on the remote it sometimes worked, but if I just used the channel button it usually didn't work. Seemed problematic for both 720 and 1080. If the channel was not coming up in HD, it would playback shows recored from that channel with gray bars (even if they didn't have the bars while we were watching it live). Any clues? I am in San Diego with Cox cable. Thanks -- this has me baffled.

Thanks for the info, Dave. I thought that was the old Sara version and was wondering how I got the first run capability without an upgrade.

macduff-

We received new firmware from Cox in San Diego right about the time you noticed the problem (1.87.9.3). The firmware added an "HD" icon in the program guide for HD programs, and also added the option to record First-Run Only shows. Both great enhancements, but unfortunately they apparently broke something. Many people noticed problems with the 8300 defaulting to 480i. See this thread for more discussion:

http://hdtv.forsandiego.com/messages...tml?1111794493

The good news is that as of this afternoon, Cox has sent out a new upgrade - 1.87.16.1, and it seems to have helped. Too early to see if the problem is completely gone. Test it and post the results in the above forum (and here if you want).

Yes, the 1.87.16.1 upgrade addressed the auto conversion problems of the 8000 and 8300 STB's. The problems did not appear when using fixed resolutions, but only on auto settings.
First run flag option is an option from the IPG vendor and works across any DVR software version. I had been using it for over a year, on the 8000 before the 8300 was even available. The HD icon is a visible icon inserted on the IPG from that flag. The HD flag has always been there,(or your HD shows would have been recorded in SD) but the 1.87.x software enabled the icon to be able to view it on screen.

vegggas

Dave,
Add this to your list of tips and tricks.

If you are using the 8300, or the 8000, with rev 1.87.xx SARA software, one of the diagnostic pages (pg 30) shows the MPEG decoder input vertical and horizontal resolutions from the cable company or their source as it hits the STB.

vegggas

Vegas,

What are the basic difference between 1.85.xx and 1.87.xx software? The 1.85.xx software seems to be common on TW systems and the 1.87.xx on Cox. Is that it?

gvc- I have a Mits 65869 HDTV and the SA 8000HD (vice 8300HD). In TV mode I can SCROLL the device selection with the button marked TV/VCR (with Input written above it) AND CAN SELECT THE INPUT using the button marked HD ZOOM (with Enter written above it.) The only glitch is that the scroll likes to jump two devices at a time most of the time. Given the similarities between the 8300 and 8000, it might work for you too.

--hourglass


gvc wrote-
I can use the 8300hd remote (at8400) to operate my Mits just fine except trying to change tv source inputs. When I push the "video source" button on the bottom of the remote while in "tv" mode , I get the device menu screen to come up, but after rotating to the particular source I want to change to, I cannot "enter" it. The "select" button on the remote does not correspond to the tv's "enter" button and there is no other button I can find that acts like an "enter" button for the television.

[quote]Originally posted by hourglass
[b]gvc- I have a Mits 65869 HDTV and the SA 8000HD (vice 8300HD). In TV mode I can SCROLL the device selection with the button marked TV/VCR (with Input written above it) AND CAN SELECT THE INPUT using the button marked HD ZOOM (with Enter written above it.) The only glitch is that the scroll likes to jump two devices at a time most of the time. Given the similarities between the 8300 and 8000, it might work for you too.

--hourglass


hour..thanks for the suggestion. I tried but no go. when getting the input menu after hitting "video source" in tv mode , I then tried the "#" button which is the hd zoom button on the 8300 remote, but nothing happened. All I can do is rotate through the options by continually hitting the video source button. the tv remains on the original source. I cant even get rid of the input menu screen without using the mit's remote. thanks anyway.

one of the fixes in the newer version , at least for cox las vegas, was the resolution bug that kept the 8300 from locking into 1080i on all the hd channels. before, I could start @1080i on channel 700 (discovery) and by the time I got to inhd2 the box would automatically switch back to 480 and stay there. it took a few extra channel changes or zoom stretches to get it back into 1080 mode. Now, after the new firmware update, the box stays in 1080i throughout the 700 series and surfing is much faster with the resolution locked in.

gvc,

I think that's what the change from 1.87.9.3 to 1.87.16.1 was for. What I am trying to figure out is 1.87.xx vs 1.85.xx.

Dave,

I know that the 1.83.xx.xx series has been for the 8000 boxes and the 1.85.xx for the 8300 boxes - are you saying that you suspect the 1.87 is intended as a common platform for both the 8000 and 8300?

Many of these problems you guys are talking about, like not locking on to an hd signal, going back to 480i I saw when I had version 1.85.14.2. I'm currently running 1.85.17.3 and my big complaint is it still misses recordings from time to time for no apparent reason.

I'd like to see them correct that permanently and also update the IPG so it would show if it's first run or repeat in my area. But since I have the worlds worst cable company (Adelphia) I doubt that will happen.

Other then that it's ok for the money.

I don't have a detailed list, or confirmation of specifics (no bug fix report) but here it goes anyway.
I believe that the 1.85 version of software was a continuation of the original 8000 software development adapted to the 8300. I think the 1.87 version of software was built around the 8300 and adapted to the 8000. The differences in versions is dramatic if you go through the diagnostic screens and see all the changes, but the end user doesn't see much difference, other than the improvements.
Getting multiple STB's on the same platform also increases memory and performance, since the ROM image sent out is smaller and more efficient. The 1.87 software is a step in that direction for SA DVR development across multi-platform MSO's.

vegggas

Veggas,

So from what you are saying it sounds like 1.87 is used on both the 800 & the 8300 while 1.85 was strictly for the 8300 and 1.83 just for the 8000. Right?

All of the instances that I have noted of 1.87 have been COX. Am I wrong in this observation?

Thanks for the great insight.

No,
Re-read my previous post. I believe 1.85 was originally a continuation of the 8000 development, adapted to also work on the 8300. The 1.87 is thought to be originally 8300 development, adapted to work with the 8000. These versions are available on systems other than Cox too.

vegggas

Gotcha,

Thanks,

I know that here in Rochester, NY that the 8000 uses 1.83 and the 8300 uses 1.85 so it looked like the place that they merged was 1.87. At least I was somehow predisposed to think that way.

I have only found "spotty" posts on what the monthly cost is supposed to be for 8300HD rental/service.

Our Cox (Phoenix) bill shows:
Digital Converter - DVR/HD $15
Digital Converter - DVR $10
Cox Digital Video Recorder Service $05.

This $30/mo. added to $45/mo for Digital Cable & Variety tier = $75/mo.

Does this sound close to what you others are being charged? Appreciate any feedback; didn't see any sense in calling a Cox rep. w/ this question

I think this is due to Adelphia changing info in the IPG. They seem to slightly change the name of some shows on the day they air, confusing the box.

They are the worlds worst cable company. It's as if the family from Arrested Development had started a cable co.