[rkunces]

By the end of the month(hopefully) Cablevision will have DVR service potentially with HDTV. If it is also going to have HD with the DVR they will use the Scientif Atlanta 8000HD. Thats all the CSR gave me she said she had worked at comcast and says the features are better than TWC and Comcast.


We'll see about that but its about time they stepped up to the plate with DVR. Just hope they don't F this one up.

 

[ITGuy72]

My source at Cablevision tells me the model will be the Explorer 8300 and 8300HD, with SARA software as opposed to the Passport version Time Warner is using. Pricing will be $9.95/mo on top of the existing box rental fee. Rumor has it the DVR will require a prof. install, $35 one time fee.

 

[anthonymoody]

Quote:

Originally posted by ITGuy72 Rumor has it the DVR will require a prof. install, $35 one time fee.

That's so completly preposterous and insulting, particularly when their techs are some of the most shockingly uninformed people I've ever had the misfortune of dealing with.


TM

 

[repoman]

Anyone get one these yet?

 

[ITGuy72]

The latest on the rumor mill (since getting any correct info from Cablevision is practically impossible) is that launch was supposed to be this week, but has been pushed back a couple of weeks.

 

[NorthJersey]

reason for the delay ??

 

[Jerrymac]

The following are two e-mail replies from Cablevision:


Reply # 1

Wednesday, September 29, 2004 11:27 AM


Thank you for your email inquiry.

Cablevision plans to distribute a converter that enables customers to

control live TV, instant replay and also allows picture in picture

display.

We are planning to distribute this converter in order to enhance our

current service within 8-10 weeks.


Sincerely,

Cablevision * Shared Services


Reply # 2:

Thursday, September 30, 2004 9:51 AM


"Thank you again for the email.

Yes, our DVR will have two tuners in it. This allows

you to watch and record, or record 2 programs, or even watch a

picture in picture feature even if you do not have a PIP tv".


Thank you,

Cablevision Shared Services


I hope they are correct, long overdue.


---Jerry---

 

[NorthJersey]

Quote:

Originally posted by NorthJersey reason for the delay ??

bump

 

[erikb333]

I enquired about a DVI cable box from Cablevision and he told me to go pick up the new 4200HD. Because I also asked about the heard-of recording capabilities coming out he said by the end of the year; it pretty much sounded like December.

 

[angrysponge]

Hey guys, just wanted to let you know that I just got an appointment to have this install done. They do have to charge you the 38.00 installation which is nonsense since these installers usually no nothing about this stuff but it would probably be waived if you called up to complain about the lack of knowlege the installer had. I will let you guys know next week how this box compares to the HD-Tivo I currently have for D*.

 

[ADGrant]

I had mine installed a week before thanksgiving. Decent hardware but the SARA DVR software is the most retarded design I have experianced. (probably not as retarded as the Zenith though).

 

[antman27]

Hello all So I just ordered my DVD from Cablevision NY LI .

what SA box are they using the SA8000HD Or tht 8300 HD ?


Any coments on them , would love to hear um !!

Thanks !

 

[Robster1958]

I got mine! I am new to the dvr world, but so far i am very impressed.


as a regular stb, the quality is better than the 4200HD, particularly on sd programming. the quality on dvr (and so far i have only recorded hd) is impeccable, same as live.


the interface is easy enough, and so far my requirements are minimal. i am amazed that i can actually record two programs at once! i also really appreciate the "always on-screen" programming while you navigate around the software.


one glitch so far-covered in another thread in this forum-is the inability to get the hdmi out to my Dwin TV3 pj. i keep getting an error message that the dwin is not hdcp-copliant (which it is).


although i hate to compliment cablevision, the $10/mo fee is actually a bargain compared with satellite $1,000 expense for fast changing technology.


As for the $35 truck roll, Anthony Moody said it perfectly!! I offered to pay $35 and pick it up myself...nope. To their credit (uugghhh!!), they set me up with a next saturday appt. with a 3-hr window and showed up towards the earlier part. My cable guy has been over a few times....a nice kid, helpful, neat, etc....but with a whole 2-hour training session for the box. And of course going from the 4200HD to the 8300HD was literally unplug and plug.


oh..no manual included! same for my neighbor. fresh box, but no manuals.

 

[rkunces]

I have had almost no problems, but one big one that I'm starting to run into is when recording sports that run over midnight and I enter a manual ending time for the show it ends up ending 12 hours later even though i set it to AM and not PM. Thats been a killer to two recordings but other than that Ive been very happy. SD channels look better than before. Interface isn't nearly as eye catching or sleek as tivo in terms of the status bar and recorders list but it does the job.


Glad to have one just wish Cablevision had ESPN Full Court so i can record some college bball games

 

[anthonymoody]

So the fee is $10 then? How's the speed of the program guide coming up? Can you directly access it? Or do you have to go into the Optimum menu first, then select the program guide?


Thanks,

TM


PS - contemplating this for a weekend home...

 

[Rob Hahn]

Quote:

Originally posted by anthonymoody So the fee is $10 then? How's the speed of the program guide coming up? Can you directly access it? Or do you have to go into the Optimum menu first, then select the program guide? Thanks, TM PS - contemplating this for a weekend home...

I've had the 8300 (both HD & SD versions) for a few weeks (I'm in CT). The box (especially the HD version) is much faster than the 4200. Channels change very quickly. The guide comes up faster but inanely you still have to hit the IO button first then Select to get to the guide. There's a "guide" button, but it doesn't bring up the guide; it brings up the menu. Stupid.


The PQ on the 8300 is just great. HD stuff is identical to live as well as all the digital staions. Analog stations look pretty good on playback (better than Tivo). And unlike Tivo, live is really live, even on analog stations.


-Rob

 

[jdfs]

I had the HDMI problem too. The solution is to not select the HDMI options from the menu. As soon as Auto HDMI was selected I got the HDCP error. How to disable this is to reboot the machine (unplug from wall). This fixed it for me and is the solution the installer used. It came back once and I did the same fix and it worked. Unplugging it doesn't seem to reset any of your other selections (DVR still is programmed and other settings seemed to hold). Overall, the box seems to work pretty well. I wish it had a few features lacking from Tivo, but it makes up for it by having two tuners and HD.

 

[antman27]

I get mine in the AM - I do not have HDMI but I do have DVI Should I use DVI input ?

 

[Robster1958]

Antman..I am using an hdmi to dvi converter cable. however i do have the problem referred to above. gonna try the reboot solution.


from what i understand, hdmi is just the dvi (digital video signal) combined with audio, and with more streamlined plug. so theorectically all the conversion cables have to do is pin-to-pin mapping to allow the video to get transmitting into the dvi input. there is no signal conversion. i have the audio separately anyhow, via coax digital.

 

[akelley]

Got mine in my new place in Southern CT. HD quality is excellent, and the DVR functionality is adequate (it's no TiVo). And as others have mentioned, it's amazing to be able to record two shows simultaneously (and I believe even while watching a third (recorded)).


Interestingly, since I just moved (transfered service), the CSR said she would waive the $35 install fee if I transferred service instead of cancelling. I guess that was make sure I didn't just cancel and then "order" once I moved... and then go and install satellite instead.