Time Warner Cable Navigator - Page 395

Ben,

Sup with your Navigator rollout? Next month, right? If NYC wants to be just about done by June from what I heard, I would assume you should be getting it in May. (Abyss too!)

Jack

Austin has the new Samsung SMT-H3270 which has a 320 GB HDD.

Of course there is one person who thinks Navigator is the best guide in the world and that person is the mighty Chef Excellence. He endorses all kinds of bad products from enron to cheese bags. Of course that didn't stop him from endorsing Navigator.

Note that I did this quickly in GIMP and credit is due to the one who originally took this photo.

Yes, we are scheduled for May rollout, but still not a peep about it with my bill or by mail. It is, however, plastered all over the webpage with videos and downloadable pamphlets. We should be getting up to date Cisco hardware as well.

I started an online poll for Albany who already has it and so far of 109 votes it breaks down as follows:

90 "Hate It" 82%

14 "It's Ok" 12%

5 "Love It" 4%

Of the 109 votes, only about 20 people left comments detailing issues or explaining their vote.

It seems to me the folk that dislike Navigator are the ones that never asked much from their guide with SARA. Is Navigator TIVo? Heck no. It is getting close to PASSPORT in the next couple of major updates. SARA was rock solid but it stunk as a modern guide. Navigator is at least 10 years ahead of SARA. In 12 months once everyone finds the hidden features in Navigator. (Shame on TWC for not doing a better job of telling folk about them). Navigator will then be a valued member of their entertainment family. Do I love Navigtor? Not yet but I hate it much much less than I hated SARA. I do have a growing affection for Navigator. WOODY

As long as ANY box has a external SATA channel and a functioning controller, it's 100% up to the software. More accurately, it's ODN running on a 8640HDC (or ANY HDC box) that prevents this as opposed to the box.

External tends to work on HD boxes because... they run MDN.

NYC finished long ago... I think you refer to upstate NY... that is Abyss country, and they are scheduled to get the roll-out RSN.

Speaking of which, CNBC seems to be running a documentary called "Enron -The Smartest Guys in the Room" and everyone SHOULD see it.

There are 2 issues with any IPG, it's feature set and it's constancy/reliability. I can only comment on MDN. It is VERY consistent & reliable, seemingly a lot more so than ODN. I DO have issues with the feature set, there are a lot of things I think are badly/wrongly designed... but you can kinda count on them.

TWC has said several times that their Navigator goals are:

To make the guide as good or better than what it replaced.

To make the guide easy for customers to use,

To make the ODN/MDN versions as similar as possible through software updates.

No, I do not think that Navigator will EVER be a TIVO DVR. Some of the legacy boxes that are really super old, like the Pioneer's, SA 1000-2000's and the 8000 model SA/Cisco DVR don't have the hardware resources to handle the new features. I mean the old SA-8000 MIGHT be able to handle it but it's a stretch. Everyone should be at an SA/Cisco 8240 DVR box or higher for best results. For non-DVR subs, probably an SA/Cisco 3000-4000 box. Or the other option would be if DVR users need a bigger hard drive to get one of the new Samsung boxes, or if they just want a faster-non DVR box, the newer SA/Cisco's and Samsungs are very good.

This is my second year with the SA-8300 (no C) and it works fine with Navigator. The only problems that we had were when we first got the box, it would reboot after several days, (turned out to be a line/wiring problem, that has since been fixed.) and about the same time when they rolled out SDV here, sometimes channels would stop in the middle of recordings for no reason, (TV Land and Food Network, the biggest culprits of this bug.) That issue has long since past.

Sometimes when they add new HD content, we WILL get pixiation for a few hours on some channels to a day AT most, or a "This Channel (usually an HD one) is currently not available message.) But within a day, like the pixiation, it clears up about as fast as it came with the new HD channels added to the grid.

My issues with Navigator are NOT reliability, they are poor design in some places, but good design in others. The next update for MDN (2.5) is supposed to BEGIN the searches on the channel you are viewing or where you are in the guide. (AWESOME!- No more going back to the letter "A" or looking at $100000 Pyramid" to start to find things!) Taking any future action on a show in the time grid (not sure if it is in Search) has a "Find All Shows" prompt, which is cool, and duplicate listings for searches are supposed to be eliminated with this update.

DVR Jump-back Control is in MDN 2.5, but I have not had a problem with that feature as it is. If that feature comes to ODN that will be great, because people are reporting frustration with this function.

Things are about to get even better for Navigator, and I think sooner rather than later.

Jack

I know this does not pertain to the discussion ....but my son asked me what the "D" button was used for ....I felt stupid about not giving him an answer but in what way does this lettered button option become useful for mystro navigator ?

I was issued one Synergy V remote with the "D" button and one without... doesn't do anything on either my 3090 or 4250HDC (both ODN). Don't really use the Synergy remotes anyway as I have Harmony remotes at both locations.

Speaking of remotes... we always talk about feature wish lists for these boxes... top of my list would be support for discrete power commands for those of us with programmable remotes. I think these boxes are the only AV devices I have that have power toggle commands only.

I wonder what the future use for the "D" button will be used for then....maybe ordering pizza !!!!

Difference I've noticed between SA8300HD with MDN 2.5, and SA8640HDC with ODN 3.1.3_3

ODN uses A in man yplaces that MDN would use SEL. As an example, you are in the guide and set a series to record with options. When you want to go back to save settings and go back to guide after setting the options, you need to press A on the ODN software. The MDN software uses SEL. Likewise, if you go into an already recorded show and want to do something like change it to "never delete", you hit SEL on MDN to save, and A on ODN to save.

Does anyone know which is intended to be the "correct" way (as in, which software is going to change to match the other)

I've also noticed that the 8640HDC, despite it's faster processor, always shows "loading data" when you press MENU and it shows recordings. The 8300HD never did that, the recorded shows would always show immediately.

I've seen ODN 3.2.0_15 in signatures, so I assume this is the newest release. Does anyone know what has changed between 3.1.3 and 3.2?

Don't forget the beer!

I had no idea that MDN was different than ODN in that regard.

As far as ODN 3.2 changes... check HERE. Some folks have been anxiously awaiting the "start search at current program" and "all showings" features... personally, I don't care much about either one. DVR Manager could be interesting/useful.

One change in 3.2 was not a good one... the loss of Sort by Favorites. I mainly used that to create a custom HD-only guide for myself (pain from that loss was slightly mitigated by the new categorized channel lineup just launched here in Charlotte last week). Despite that, the update to 3.2 was still welcomed as it came along with a Samsung software update (to 4.3.5.3) that corrected many long standing issues with the 3090... such as getting stuck on 720p output and the missed FOX/CBS recordings issue, both of which have plagued Charlotte 3090 users since it was introduced a year ago.

Shhhh!!!!! (We have to be very, very quiet about the "D" button!)

Abyss That "D" button is the gateway treasure to some of Navigator's greatest and most wonderful secrets! Don't tell anybody or they will all be pressing it!!! LOL!!! It's so special, that many remotes don't even have the "D" button yet! Not even mine!!!

The "D" button is like the one button that Willy Wonka didn't press in the "Wonkavator" until Charlie pushed it!!! LOL!!!!

Right now, no one is saying anything about it, but oh when it is activated, and the features of that "D" button come out and are revealed to the masses!!! EVERYONE will be subscribing to TWC!

Jack

The D button is a part of the OCAP/tru2way spec. It will be used for "future interactive services".

I was told by a source in TWC that the sort by favorites feature was removed to make way for the guide filtering feature that will be comeing shortly. WOODY

We can only hope and wait... thanks, Woody.

For me, far and away would be a learning function (even if I had to pay a fee to get such a remote). I LOVE my Carver AVR, but it's long discontinued and doesn't work with any of the "codes" available. All I'd need is power and volume... input changing would also be nice.

Harmony now has a less expensive version, I really should look into it... my only reluctance is my hand is SO muscle memory programmed to the TWC remote, I can operate it in my sleep... yeah, silly excuse, eh?

That be a +1 for TiVO, they do have such an animal.

A bit OT, but... I'm a huge Harmony fan, but you have to be careful with some of the lower level models in that some of them are severely limited in the number of devices that can be controlled... many are as few as five, which is not a large number at all in a modern HT system. The higher end models typically can control 11 or more devices. I recently simplified my system, substituting a universal Blu-ray player (also plays SACD and and DVD-A) for separate Blu-ray and universal DVD players, and I still have ten active devices controlled by the H1 in my main system. Personally, I wouldn't trade my One for any other remote, and I've used and programmed a bunch.

A small but nice "feature" with the One is that it has icons for the A, B & C soft buttons that look just like the "regular" Navigator A, B & C buttons (color and shape).

The Harmony 650 I've had for a couple of weeks works great with the Samsung 3090 (and presumably all other boxes that use SA codes). It does take a little while to get set up to your liking, though.

Yeah... no troubles programming for any of the TW boxes. I've used the One (8300HDC / 3090), the 880 (Pioneer HD Voyager, 8300HDC), the 550 (3090 / 4250HDC) and the 520 (8300HDC). Just wish these boxes had discrete power support... it makes a system so much more "idiot proof" for the casual non-techie users.

The 300 (50 bucks) can fit into my cash flow, so I was seriously flirting with the thought (I can easily live with the 4 device limit)... until I found out it ONLY supports Intel processors, which I do not have. Not to mention the irony that it does support the last 3 major OS X updates... grrrrr.

May want to check out One For All URC 10820 (~$17). I like it because I want to press buttons based on feel only (no looking), so I require all hard buttons and nicely placed. Also, since the TWC remote has 1001 buttons (no context-sensitivity), the remote had to have a lot of buttons. This was the only one that fit the bill.

http://www.twcableuntangled.com/2010...ndy-checklist/

More areas of TX are getting Navigator. Navigator is going to replace SARA in those areas. A few areas in TX have already started their transition.

I like that Blog and the system that they are using to promote Navigator and other updates. I bookmarked the site. While it appears that many of the responses from the Twitter "Tweets" seem to be of the scripted variety, and far from perfect, at least TWC is doing SOMETHING to get some better customer communication responses out there.

It appears that TWC has nailed down the Navigator updates over the last two years pretty well. The blog section will probably be a good place to visit for Navigator box updates.

Just a hunch, but I think that the biggest feature that TWC will be promoting for Navigator coming soon will be the Remote DVR Management. Guide Filtering also seems to be a good step in the right direction to allow better organization of programing.

I also want to thank Crazy Woody for his explanation as to Why "Sort By Favorites" was removed from the Navigator Guide. If you haven't seen his post, he said that a TWC source told him that this was done to prepare the guide for the Guide Filtering feature, which will allow you to filter your Favorite Channels.

Two Speculation Questions:

1.) Do you think that boolean searches with and/or operators will be allowed in "Guide Filtering" and the forthcoming "Expanded Keyboard Search?"

2.) Consider the following condition: (Very hypothetical at this point

Press Settings or "A" (Depending on MDN/ODN box type) This is what I might EXPECT, note that I have NO INFORMATION that says this is how it will work.

Scroll to Guide Filtering:

Filter by: Favorite Channels
Subscribed Channels
HD Channels
Sports
News/Weather
Movies
Kids/Family
Off (Default)

I wonder if you will be able to pick from multiple choices for your Guide filtering from the list? or just select one category from the list? I think most likely it will be a one-option deal.

Also, the Keyboard will be expanded to include search descriptions as you key in words related to your selection. This further expands the keyboard search option, because right now, users can only search letter by letter for shows beginning with the first letter of a show's TITLE. In cases where the TITLE begins with the word "A" or "The", remember that the first letter of the second word begins the search.

TWC needs to expand the keyboard, to eliminate incorrect searches as results are typed from the list. MDN 2.5 removes obvious duplicate entries from Category and Keyboard Searching, so this could be the beginning of better search consolidation. A Navigator 3.0 (for both ODN/MDN) is in development.

Jack

Ah, thanks for the suggestion... they also have an 8 device one for 13 bucks!

I hate to say it, but 13 to 17 bucks for a learning remote??? Sounds almost TOO cheap! What negatives have you seen, and how long have you used it?

Manual for All-In-One 10820 can be found here:
http://www.retrevo.com/search/v2/jsp...o.jsp?page=man
[The email block can be left blank.]

You'll have to pick which buttons to "learn" the A, B, C keys.
Fortunately, nearly every key can be reprogrammed, such as
easy to find in the dark: A=Replay, C=Advance and B=+100.
[These aren't assigned when in Cable control mode.]

I would avoid reprogramming the buttons at the bottom
of the remote, cuz you're going to have to move your grip
and actually LOOK at them....

Macros M1 and M2 can be used as a Master Power Toggle
(all ON, all OFF) or (my wife's favorite) change to Cable Input on the
HDTV...just in case I forgot to change it after doing something else.
[No I don't have the 10820 model, my wife uses a much older one.]

UEI makes the All-In-One series as well as the URC standard Remote
for most cable companies...they have a strong IR signal & are reliable.

My biggest complaint with the URC remotes is the hit and miss
functionality for all of my OTHER equipment. I always have to go in
and learn a bunch more codes to make them minimally functional
and it's impossible to control everything...not enough buttons.
Sony AVRs have been a particular problem for me....I shouldn't have
to make it relearn nearly every key...incl. the cursor control keys...
Perhaps the new R/Cs are better....

Of course my (pricey) Harmony One R/C makes this easy, since it
downloads codes from an on-line database...

Surprisingly, almost no universal remotes have had A B C D buttons until recently. If and when it becomes available, the Sony RM-VLZ620 seems like it should be the best price/capability option. But Amazon still doesn't have it for some reason.