FusionGuy
join:2001-12-06
 ·Mountain Cable
|  Motorola Digital box
I purchased the $39.99 Motorola box, but the remote that came with it is not the same as in the ads/flyers. This remote is not a Motorola but a Universal Electronics brand with the Mountain Cable logo at the bottom. Another small difference I noticed is that the RF In connector has a yellow center but the To TV/VCR is white. There is also a sticker on the bottom with a number 2 on it. I don't know what that signifies. Looking at pictures on the internet the connectors are both white. Don't know why mine is different?
They gave me the unit in a plastic bag and not in the original box. I did ask them if the unit is brand new and they said it was. Anyone else have these differences?
Also is it normal to experience a slight delay/freeze when surfing and landing on a channel? It's not like regular cable where you can speed through the channels. |
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MikeG
Premium
join:2004-10-02
Hamilton, ON
·Mountain Cable
| I don't have a DCT700 , but as for the "slight delay", it is *normal*. Its just the time it takes to tune to the channel afaik.
I'm assuming slight delay means roughly half a second or so?
Btw, this is where having the interactive guide becomes useful. Instead of flipping through every channel you just pop into the i-Guide and see whats on, on every channel, and at what time. |
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MikeG
Premium
join:2004-10-02
Hamilton, ON
·Mountain Cable
| reply to FusionGuy
By the way, heres the guide for the Universal Electronics remote.
»www.mountaincable.net/pdf/AtlasO···nual.pdf
I see from reading their site they offer 3 different remotes.
The Motorola remote: »www.mountaincable.net/index.php?···,0,0,1,0
The USR(Universal Electronics) Remote »www.mountaincable.net/pdf/AtlasO···nual.pdf
The UE Cricket Remote: »www.mountaincable.net/pdf/Cricke···alv2.pdf
I also have a different Motorola remote than the one on their website. I actually like the one i have more than the one on their site.
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FusionGuy
join:2001-12-06
·Mountain Cable
| The remote in the link is a General Instrument. I don't think it's made by Motorola. The Motorola has the buttons in a different pattern. I don't know why they show this one in the image.
What I think is they buy these digital boxes without the remote and then find other remotes that maybe are more compatible with their service. It even says in the Motorola manual that a remote is not included but is needed to operate the digital box, and they recommend a Motorola remote. But Mountain Cable decided to go with the Universal Electronics.
Anyways here is an image of back. The RF IN is a little different then the other one. I don't know if this was repaired at one time or they do this on purpose for some reason but they did say it was brand new, so I don't know. |
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MikeG
Premium
join:2004-10-02
Hamilton, ON
·Mountain Cable
| GI must produce them for Motorola, cause its identical
»broadband.motorola.com/consumers···arge.jpg
This is the one i have:»broadband.motorola.com/consumers···ault.asp
They buy the units in bulk most likely. Any universal remote would operate these boxes i would think, its just the ones they've chosen can make use of all the functions.
As for the RF IN, if its working I wouldn't worry about it.
The other images on google don't have the assembled in mexico stickers, so it could just be how it was made in the production plant.
This is from someone who uses Shaw, looks like they give their users the same remotes as well. »www.flickr.com/photos/brgnewman/···7050448/
Full thread is here »www.digitalhome.ca/forum/showthr···?t=55614
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FusionGuy
join:2001-12-06 | The remote you have is the same as in the flyer I received.
Oh yeah I've been to that site. Very good site for A/V etc. |
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FusionGuy
join:2001-12-06
·Mountain Cable
| I'm not liking this digital cable. There are times when the picture has pixelization, and it's not just a few squares here and there but most of the screen. I don't know why this happens. If this continues I'm going to get my money back and go back to standard cable. |
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Marcer
VIP
join:2007-07-08
Hamilton, ON
·Mountain Cable
| reply to MikeG
said by MikeG  :I don't have a DCT700 , but as for the "slight delay", it is *normal*. Its just the time it takes to tune to the channel afaik. More like the time it takes to...
1. Reference the channel against the addressable mapping programed in memory (to determine frequency)
2. Locate frequency and start tuning/decoding QAM
3. Access and load encryption key for channel
4. Begin decoding MPEG stream (i.e. wait for I-frame and then start displaying channel)
The last step is what generally causes the 1/2 second of pixelation when you change channels
I am with mike on this one, use the guide.
As far as the remote goes, that Atlas 5 is the standard one issued by Cogeco and Shaw with their Motorola DCTs.
Also... that input F-81 connector looks like its a refurb/repaired DCT unit.
Finally, to check on the pixelation, when it happens, press the power button followed by the ok/select button you will get a diagnostic menu up.
Go to in-band status and check the SNR and short term error counts.
SNR will show poor/fair/good
Short term errors update every 5 seconds and should stay below 100-200 |
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FusionGuy
join:2001-12-06 | I tried the power + ok/select but it just turns the unit off. I can't get the diagnostics menu up. |
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Marcer
VIP
join:2007-07-08
Hamilton, ON | its power off, then wait a half second, then press ok/select, not power and ok/select together  |
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FusionGuy
join:2001-12-06 | That's what I'm doing. The DCT powers off and no diagnostics menu shows up. |
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Marcer
VIP
join:2007-07-08
Hamilton, ON
·Mountain Cable
| hmmm... try adjusting your timing, and/or, just press the ok/select button repeatedly. Also note, if the master power has been programmed to turn your tv on/off, you need the tv to stay on to view the diagnostics
Failing all that, you can PM me a contact # and I'll walk you through it, I've flipped into my diagnostic screen on my 700 at least 20 times :P |
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Marcer
VIP
join:2007-07-08
Hamilton, ON | reply to FusionGuy
any luck? |
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FusionGuy
join:2001-12-06
·Mountain Cable
4 edits | Yes I finally got in. What I did was clear the master power button so only the DCT powers down. It wouldn't work with the TV and receiver programmed even though I was right up in front of the terminal so it would only turn it off and not the other components. I don't know why but another thing I noticed was I always have to have the remote pointed directly at DCT otherwise it won't change the channel etc. For the volume I can point the remote to the back of the room and the TV will respond. I guess the IR receiver on the DCT is not as sensitive. Don't know I'm not a tech.
As for the info you asked for...
In-band status is 28db Fair
Short term error are all over the place. At one point they were in the 2 digit range, then it was around 148 - 280. The highest I seen was 1633. I can't really get an average because they are all over the place.
BTW, do you have a sticker with a number 2 on the bottom of your unit? Any idea what this could mean? |
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Marcer
VIP
join:2007-07-08
Hamilton, ON
·Mountain Cable
| Ok...
So as I expected, poor signal to Noise. This means you don't have proper signal reaching the box, i.e. time for a service call.
P.S. it is regular for it to jump around, the important thing is seeing how high it is getting, anything above ~150 means issues, not necessarily @ the home though, that's where the SNR comes in.
I know my box has A sticker with a # on the bottom, but I cannot recall what # it is.
That being said, I still think its been repaired/refurb'ed
Finally, the DCT700s are notorious for poor IR reception.
One series was even recalled due to the IR receiver not working at a distance greater than 3 feet. All I can recommend is, don't put it behind glass, remove the clear plastic tape that comes over the front of the receiver (if you haven't already) and note that the box is very poor for side to side angles, (you need to be pointing in a straight line directly at the front). |
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FusionGuy
join:2001-12-06
·Mountain Cable
2 edits | Today I checked it again and it was at 35db and Good. The short term error was at 0000 most of the time. I'll keep an eye on it and if things still don't improve I'll have to call them.
If indeed they sold me a refurb I should go and give them a piece of my mind. I specifically asked if the unit I was purchasing was new. Maybe that's why they only cost $39.99 and they want to get rid of all the old/repaired stock. I don't know.
I'll tell you I could write a novel on the experience I have with EHR a few years back when they tried passing me some "B" stock that I wasn't aware of for full price. I haven't purchased any electronics from them since. |
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MikeG
Premium
join:2004-10-02
Hamilton, ON
·Mountain Cable
1 edit | reply to FusionGuy
Noticed some pixelation on CBCHD tonight, cleared up after the 1st period though.
But it looks like it was CBC, people on Rogers had the same problem.
»Re: [HOCKEY] GO HABS GO
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Marcer
VIP
join:2007-07-08
Hamilton, ON
·Mountain Cable
| said by MikeG :Noticed some pixelation on CBCHD tonight, cleared up after the 1st period though. But it looks like it was CBC, people on Rogers had the same problem. » Re: [HOCKEY] GO HABS GO Thats why the diagnostics screen is useful. If the pixelation is source related, your SNR and error counts will remain good, as the signal itself is good, and the error count is related to errors in the QAM as opposed to errors in the MPEG stream |
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FusionGuy
join:2001-12-06
·Mountain Cable
2 edits | More problems...
Now on many channels (3,4,5,6,9,13,15,16,20,21,22) I get a nice little message saying "One Moment Please... This channel should be availably shortly"
Checked diagnostics and found this...
Carrier Lock - Alternating between Yes and No
PCR Lock - Alternating between Yes and No
SNR 25dB Poor
Short term error - sometimes its 32078 then 0000 then no digits at all (_ _ _ _)
What on earth is going on?
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Marcer
VIP
join:2007-07-08
Hamilton, ON
·Mountain Cable
| Your signal has degraded to the point that the box can no longer determine what is the carrier(signal) and what is just noise (hence the measurement of SNR, Signal to Noise Ratio).
This is either a signal problem, or that "new" box is defective. I'd recommend you schedule for a service technician to come out and investigate. |
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