gelbelt
join:2002-03-06
Atlanta, GA
| Scientific Atlanta Explorer 8000
Has anyone here used the Scientific Atlanta Explorer Digital Set-Top Box / PVR? Time Warner is offering one locally for an extra $5/month, so I'm going to trade in my current box for one of these. They're supposed to have two tuners, two MPEG encoders, and an 80 GB hard drive. Recording time is 50 hours. Plus, since is uses the same programming guide as my digital cable, there's no need for a phone line.
Adam |
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BangBang
join:2000-07-05
West New York, NJ
 ·RoadRunner Cable
| 2 tuners? Gee. We can get double the crashes for only an extra $5/mo 
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»artists.mp3s.com/artists/86/mojo···one.html |
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tc27407
Premium
join:2001-04-28
Greensboro, NC
| reply to gelbelt
I have one that I've had for about 2 months now and love it. Here is a link for the data sheets if you would like some detailed infomation about it.
»www.sciatl.com/customers/prod_sub_PVR2.htm
Tim |
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amiga2091
join:2003-01-24
San Antonio, TX | reply to gelbelt
They are awesome! I gort one a week ago and just the fact that it records two prgrams at once is cool! THe firewire ports on it do not work yet though. I didn't try the USB port. Hope this helps some.
miggy |
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NotGood
@rr.com
| I'm on my second SAE 8000, and all I can say is these things are garbage. This evening I got a disc error when I went to my recorded list and 2 weeks of programming was erased. The first box I had would stop recording shows in the middle, or would refuse to record them entirely. It appears that Time Warner is using us a beta testers, yet making us pay monthly for the service. I am canceling the service tomorrow and going back to the old reliable VCR... |
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Razbones
@rr.com | reply to gelbelt
Got an 8000, and really enjoy it. Is there anyway to hook it up to a home network, though? Are those firewire/1394 ports for anything? |
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luongo0
join:2003-02-19
Portland, ME | I spoke with some reps about these extra ports. They have no installed electronics and are only there to make the box "ready" for these functions when they are available.
luongo |
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CaptSternn
Sternn Heavy Industries
join:2002-05-24
Overland Park, KS | Everest Connections also has the 8000. From what I've heard, you can't get the local channels through it because it will crash the box. I think it's a firmware issue. Other than that, I haven't heard of any other problems from customers. |
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KevinG79
@rr.com
| reply to gelbelt
Does anyone know if you can hook this thing into your PC (I notice it has a USB and ethernet port) so you can directly transfer the stuff it records to it's Hard drive to your computer?
Like lets say I record a show on the 8000 DVR unit and I just want to copy that video (assuming it just saves what you record as MPEGS) to my PC? If it supports that I'd be really happy!
Kevin |
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TheRealFixer
join:2003-02-22
Memphis, TN
| I've got this box... and it's crashed twice already just this morning. I've only had it for 3 days, but so far I am very unimpressed. Extremely slow, switching between different channel types (plain cable channels 1-60 and digital channels) often causes the system to lock up for a long period of time. And VERY often certain channels just won't lock in for a VERY long time. Sometimes 5 minutes or more.
The PVR functionality is nice (when it works. I've had it spontaniously "forget" to record something already), but this model is pure crap. I hope they are going to replace them with something else. |
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AVCXpert
join:2003-02-18
Overland Park, KS | reply to gelbelt
Everest has this same box, and I love it! It works great, and I could never ask for an easier user interface! Best product on the market today. |
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AVCXpert
join:2003-02-18
Overland Park, KS
| reply to KevinG79
Hey Kevin!
In regards to your question about the SA-8000, I'm not sure what format it stores its video but it does have a USB port and 2 firewire ports. I personally just shoot any video out to a DVD burner, I didnt just say that did I?
-Bryan |
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KevinG79
@rr.com
| Well, the USB port is a dud. I just tried hooking up a USB A/A cable from the SA8000 to my PC and nothing happens. Doesnt find new hardware or anything. I guess it's true that the ports are just there for looks. That totally sucks.
What I WANT to do is take all the stuff I record to the SA8000 and transfer it to my PC so I can then burn DVDs. Right now I have to do it analog by video capturing each video to my vidcap card. Would save a lot of time if I could just take the video from its hard drive and "shoot" it over to my PC... sigh... oh well. Life is never easy. |
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AVCXpert
join:2003-02-18
Overland Park, KS
| Kevin,
contat Scientific Atlanta, depending on what area you are in and what system you are on the software for the usb ports may not be installed. They can probably help with that issue. Let me know how it turns out
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-Bryan Russell-AVCXpert@Everestkc.net-Audio,Video,& Communications eXpert. |
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bigjeffb
join:2003-03-03
Oneida, NY
| reply to gelbelt
I have owned the replay dvr and dish network dvr. Replay was best, dish second. I just got the 8000 cause of an unreal deal from time warner. $56/mo for full digital cable with all premium channels including an SA Explorer 8000. I was leary cause time warner has been fighting DVRs all along. Well it was too good to be true. The 8000 can't just list all upcoming movies like the other ones do. The menus are really screwy. There is no 30 second jump ahead feature. All of these things force you to watch alot more network tv and alot less premium channel movies. Just what time warner wants. I HATE IT. IT SUCKS COMPARED TO THE COMPETITION!!!!!!!!!!! |
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ezyoneAZ
join:2003-03-10
Herndon, VA
|  reply to gelbelt
I have this box in my home now and have to say that it is a very impressive machine. Some things to note that differentiate from the competition:
1. Dual Tuner Rocks - Picture in Picture even without a PIP TV. Very simple to use
2. Cable in Interactive Program Guide: No more phone line being run to the box to get the program guide to work
3. 32 Times Fast Forward = 2 minutes of commercials gone in 5 seconds...
USB Port is only for keyboard or input device if the box is also used as an Internet portal... it may be used also if companies go with an Interactive Cable solution
The back of the box has Firewire ports... currently disabled but is flash upgradeable and this should create an opportunity to do video downloads to PC or an external hard drive.
I prefer this to TIVO... and I think the last writer doesnt understand the Interactive Program Guide because I have the option to search any programming in a variety ways... go into the "Guide" and then choose your "browse by" options. I actually think this is more versatile if you know what you are looking for... |
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Konaguy
Live From Kailua-Kona, Hawaii
Premium
join:2000-10-21
Kailua Kona, HI
 ·Hawaiian Telcom
| reply to AVCXpert
said by AVCXpert  :
Hey Kevin!
In regards to your question about the SA-8000, I'm not sure what format it stores its video but it does have a USB port and 2 firewire ports. I personally just shoot any video out to a DVD burner, I didnt just say that did I?
Which port did you connect it to ? Firewire or USB
to be able to send video from the SA 8000 to your computer ?
--
Forum Posts: 642 |
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Catch228
@167.216.x.x
| I currently have a TiVo but was looking to try the Scientific Atlanta DVR for the two tuners and the ability to record two channels at once.
For those who have this DVR, can you watch a program from the beginning while the recorder is still recording the end of the program? Also, the TiVo has what they call a season pass which allows you to select a show and have the TiVo record all future episodes. Can the 8000 do that as well.
Thanks,
Jeff |
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MarkJaquith
@bellsouth.net
| You indeed can watch the beginning of the show while it's recording the end. A good thing to do is to start recording, or to automatically have it start recording at the beginning of the show, and tune in 8 minutes late for a 30 minute program and 16 minutes late for a 60 minute program. That way you can fast forward through all the commercials.
This hardware isn't polished. It is slow, and quirky. But for the most part, it's done what it's advertised. There are just a few caveats: If you schedule two shows to be recorded at the same time, you need to be on one of those two channels when the second starts recording. It'll automatically record one scheduled show in the background if you are on another channel, but if you are already recording one, and you are viewing another, and you want to record yet another, you would need 3 tuners. Unfortunately, I have found that it doesn't zoom you over to one of the two channels scheduled for recording.
Season pass: poorly implemented. You can only schedule all episodes that can presently be seen by the guide. So, 7 days ahead. Don't expect to be able to go on a 3 week vacation and have it record all your shows.
Timing: The clock is set by the network, but I find that not all TV networks are synced. When you record, you should probably manually give it 2 minutes of buffer before, and possibly a minute of buffer before. After isn't so important, because most shows have credits, or break for commercials, and then come back with the credits. But a lot of shows start right at 00:00, so if your recorder turns on at 00:30, you've missed 30 seconds that won't be recorded. The dual tuner is nice for this. Tuesday nights on Fox at 9pm is 24... at 10pm is The Shield on FX, and at 11pm (on my local Fox affiliate) is The Simpsons. I like to record all of them, so I record from 8:59 to 10:01 on Fox, 9:59 to 11:01 on FX, and 10:59 to 11:31 on Fox. There are overlaps, but show 1 is recorded by tuner 1, show 2 by tuner 2, and show 3 by tuner 1. As long as you don't have a triple overlap, you should be fine.j |
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Catch228
@167.216.x.x
| Thanks for the info. I have finally gotten a unit myself. Hopefully some of the convenience issues can be addressed with firmware upgrades. The dual tunners is great. I love the flexibility. The way programs that have been recored are listed is also very good. I like the interface.
Video quality on fast motion is not as good as the TiVo though. Also, the TiVo will back up a bit automatically after a fast forward. This is nice since you almost always fast forward partially into the program.
While the unit is recording, how do you automatically view the beginning without having to rewind manually?
Thanks,
Jeff |
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