moorphey
@rr.com
| reply to E8000_User
Updates on Scientific Atlanta 8000 (SA 8000)
E8000 . . Just checking here . . you ARE pressing the plus sign on the BOX, right? -- the one in the little circle on the right, correct?
Mine flashes within seconds.
If it doesn't -- I suspect you have a weird box.
Your understanding is like mine -- that DirecTivo records digital directly.
Having said that, on my Tivo (A series 1--Sony SVR 2000)the picture in Basic (the lowest quality recording) looks the same as live TV. OTOH, my televisions are no great shakes.
Also (and I think I mentioned this, I have heard that the Tivo brand units are quite noisy--both the fan and the HD, and that the Sony (at least Series I) are quiet. I'll be upgrading soon, with a 120G Samsung HD, reputed to be quiet and cool compared to a Maxtor.
FWIW, I have watched the SA8000 more. It fails to record 50% or more of the shows I have on "record all" which is the closest one can come to what is a Season's Pass in Tivo. I'll check it this weekend when I have many shows scheduled.
I have it chalked up to being unreliable and untrustworthy -- kinda like a fellow I didn't like my daughter to date: Nice when he showed up, but stood her up as often as not.
I think this will be used mostly for manual recording.
If I didn't have my Tivo, this would turn me off PVRs. |
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E8000_User
join:2003-07-11
Encino, CA
| I noticed something while I was trying to tape the Sopranos marathon over the weekend. I had three one hour shows set to record in a row. Only the first actually recorded. The second one showed that it recorded only 0 minutes (start and end time are the same). Since I looked at it during the recording of the third show, it showed the red recording ICON next to the show, but the red record LIGHT on the box was dark. This inconsistancy resulted in the 3rd show also displayed as 0 minutes.
So, the software seems to locate and attempt to record the correct shows (at least I've never found that it didn't), but the software seems to fail to control the hardware properly in order to record the show.
Any thoughts?
Thanks,
Todd |
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E8000_User
join:2003-07-11
Encino, CA
| I've determined that this DVR is very sensitive to the quality of the digital data stream. For whatever reason, my digital cable has had video (and audio) drop-outs of late, and my missed recordings have also increased. I spent a good deal of time over the weekend re-seating all CableTV cables, and trying different combinations of cables, splitters, etc. I found that if plugged my digital cable boxes into a cable amplifier, the picture quality improved and drop-out's lessened. Previously, I had all the digital equipment connected in the most direct, and least # of splitters, path; which also avoided the amp. I had used the amp only for analog reception.
So far, recording results have much improved. I wonder if anyone else has seen this effect?
-Todd |
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shinola
@rr.com
| I've had a E8000 from Brighthouse (Central Florida) and have not had many problems (crashed a while back, but rebooted fine). That was until yesterday.
A show I recorded didn't stop recording until manually stopped. Once stopped, no scheduled recordings occurred afterwards.
I read this thread and found many suggestions for seeing the software screen on my passport echo box(channels 611, 199, 900, etc.) and none worked.
Finally, I found a post showing how to reboot the box. It appears to have fixed the problem.
Anyone else have a non-recording problem? |
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Invero
@rr.com | Shinola...
I have BrightHouse as well. To get to the info screen, you hold down the PLUS key on the box, and also one of the other keys. Info, I think. It'll then say DIAG on the box. Only then can you change to channel 611 and get the info. |
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Vchat20
@oh.sprint-hsd
| TWC PVR
Cant say mch except that we are supposed to be getting one tommorrow. came as a package with roadrunner free for a month. my mom ordered it. and after almost 2 weeks of hassle with the cable company losing track of the latest payment on the bill, we should finally have tommorrow. and hopefully, considering the pvr's are new to this area, I can do some technical checking on it and if something goes wrong, the cable company can either replace or fix it without asking too many questions. hope I can be of some help with this new hacking. 
P.S. I am looking for some links if anyone could provide me with some. im looking for techniical specs on this box including all the ports available, what they are for and such. normal size of the hard drive, etc. and if there is a board on the net somwhere that deals with this kind of stuff secifically, I would love to have a link. thx! |
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DonkeyBeliever
@rr.com
| Well same here Im getting mine tomorrow I spent 2 hours on the phone with Oceanic TW (Hawaii Cable :-\ from the fools that bring you AOL comes your Cable!) and I must say I learned jack crap Im almost thinking it would have been better to build that Linux Box and let it transfer to my Nice Big Fat 1 Terabyte Raid Array Proudly running Linux  :D! Well when the install guys come Im going to ask lots of question but I don't think Ill get an answer damn it sucks being 15 no one listens to you... Stupid Donkeys.... |
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Jeff Wilson
@rr.com
| I have now had this for 1 week and I am loving it. 2 tuners, PIP, online guide integration...fantastic. OK, so searching is not up to Tivo standards...that's ok. Also, I have had no problem taping off of the PVR to a VCR. My only complaint is that it really slows down channel surfing. But I recommend it highly!! Enjoy!
Jeff |
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Vchat20
@rr.com | Extra info
Well, just got the Explorer 8000 topday. havent even had it for 2 hours yet. and it is brand new. was still in the box when the guy installed it. now my question is, can a second Hard Drive be put in or atleast have a new one with more space? |
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trashcanmoe
join:2003-09-12
Columbus, OH
| How much program data does this unit store?
I just got my 8000 today after my TiVo broke again. (HD failed twice in less than a year.) So far so good, but the scheduling isn't up to what TiVo can do. Does anyone know how much program data the 8000 holds? So far it looks like about a week, but I'm hoping that it's still got some data to pull down from the TimeWarner mothership. |
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Vchat20
@rr.com | I think it can hold about a week of programming at a time. but if you flip through the guide ahead of what programming it does have to where it says No Data, it should retrieve extra info. |
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E8000_User
join:2003-07-11
Encino, CA | reply to E8000_User
Re: Updates on Scientific Atlanta 8000 (SA 8000)
The better quality digital stream seems to greatly improve the functionality of FW and REV. They work much smoother now and do not often "hang" as they used to. |
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maartena
Stacked.
Premium
join:2002-05-10
Orange, CA
 ·RoadRunner Cable
| reply to Vchat20
Re: Extra info
said by Vchat20  :
Well, just got the Explorer 8000 topday. havent even had it for 2 hours yet. and it is brand new. was still in the box when the guy installed it. now my question is, can a second Hard Drive be put in or atleast have a new one with more space?
No. The Harddisk contains the operating system and you can't replace it with an empty disk.
As far as I know you are able to connect a second disk - at least I have heard rumours that the FireWire port on the back will be used to connect an extra external harddrive for more space. But since the firewire port is still disabled, it may be a while before that is possible.
They are probably afraid that you would be able to connect it to a computer afterward, and run some program that cracks through the encryption (the format on the disk is encrypted) to move shows to DVD. I think that if you can buy a DVD recorder, you should be able to do it like that as well.
A lot of series that one can download from the Net have been recorded on DVD at broadcast, and then transfered to a PC by simply putting the DVD disc in the computer and edit it. So I do not see the problem of moving shows to the computer and keep permanent copies of it. For own use of course.
--
»www.deanforamerica.com - You have the power to make a change! Support Howard Dean 2004 |
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armagnac0
join:2003-10-30
Brooklyn, NY
| reply to Invero
Re: Updates on Scientific Atlanta 8000 (SA 8000)
For what it's worth, I get the multipage diagnostics by tuning to channel 611, *then* pressing the + and EXIT buttons on the box until there's a chime and DIAG appears on the box's display.
Brooklyn/Queens Times-Warner Cable DVR service, PowerTV 6.0.9sp (5) dated Jul 9 2003, 11:11:30 AM, Passport Echo 1.0.080 dated Jul 28 2003, 07:35:45. |
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Shinsa
@cox.net
| Status summry on Explorer boxes
The channel doesn't matter. And you can get that from the remote by...
making sure it is in CABLE mode
Press the PAUSE button and hold it down until...
the MSG light blinks on the front of the box (the light with a little envelope next to it)
Then press the "PAGE+" button (or page up)
You are now in the STATUS SUMMRY screens, Nothing here can be changed, but it does give you a lot of info.
Use PAGE button to change screens.
Screen 5 has power levels. Most important ones are LEVEL (or LVL) which should be between +5 and -10. If it is lower than -10 you *might* have display problems. The next one is SNR (or S/N) signal noise ratio, should be in the mid 30's, the lower the number (like in the 20's) the noisier the line is. |
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fordboy0
join:2002-05-17
Cincinnati, OH
| SA Explorer 8000HD
Sorry for the duplicate post. I accidentally posted to the main topic section.
Just wanted to let you all know that I've had my Explorer 8000HD for about a week now. It seems to exhibit the same features / issues that the 8000 does. It has the Passport / Pioneer software and I cannot figure out how to get info about it (TW Cincinnati). I've tried all of the standard channels (611, 199, 900, 999 etc) and the Pluskey method but no avail.
I don't understand why they gave this model to me since I do not have HDTV, but I have learned not to question the ultimate authority that is TW cable .
So far I am enjoying it. It sure is nice to be able to watch The Rockford Files or Seinfeld whenever I want! :P
Any caveats?
-Fordboy0 |
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golden eagle
Aquila chrysaetos
Premium
join:2002-08-06
On a cliff
clubs:
| said by fordboy0 :
...I don't understand why they gave this model to me since I do not have HDTV, but I have learned not to question the ultimate authority that is TW cable. ...
How many of you that have the 8000HD actually have an HDTV? I'm considering purchasing an HDTV but TW in nyc, according to their web site, is broadcasting only 6 channels in HD.
--
Pain is just fear leaving the body. |
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Vchat20
Landing is the REAL challenge
join:2003-09-16
Warren, OH
clubs: 
| well, we dont currently have an HDTV, nor do we have n HDTV box, but the tv we have in our living room is about to go since it is over 4 years old and the picture is very fuzzy now compared top the other tv's in our house. and what we have decided is that once this TV does go, we are gonna try to get an HDTV. but, is the picture quality on the analog channels better or worse on an HDTV than a regular TV? I heard watching analog channels on an HDTV produces worse quality than a regular TV, but im not totally sure.
[text was edited by author 2003-11-01 02:47:04] |
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golden eagle
Aquila chrysaetos
Premium
join:2002-08-06
On a cliff
clubs:
| said by Vchat20 :
... but, is the picture quality on the analog channels better or worse on an HDTV than a regular TV? I heard watching analog channels on an HDTV produces worse quality than a regular TV, but im not totally sure.
[text was edited by author 2003-11-01 02:47:04]
I'd like to hear some feedback on this also. It seems that all involved, networks, cable systems and satellite, have been slow to adapt to HD even though everyone is supposed to be on board by 2006.
Excerpt of legislation:
May 2002: All commercial TV stations are scheduled to begin digital broadcasting.
April 2003: Commercial stations must simulcast (simultaneously broadcast) at least 50 percent of their NTSC (analog) programming on their DTV channel.
May 2003: All public TV stations are scheduled to begin digital broadcasting.
April 2004: Stations must simulcast at least 75 percent of their NTSC programming on their DTV channel.
April 2005: All stations must simulcast 100 percent of their NTSC programming on their DTV channel.
December 2006: All TV stations must turn off their analog signal. |
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atomicmike5
join:2003-11-04
Fairfield, OH
| reply to fordboy0
I have TW Cinci as well, and I just had a tech out today to check out my box (he ended up replacing it). I watched him put it into diag mode, though...
He pressed the + (Select) and EXIT buttons on the front until the unit chimes (about 3-5 seconds). The front panel display will then show diag for a few seconds. You can then tune to channel 611 and access all the diagnostic information. The unit will stay in diag mode until you press the power button, etc.
Hope this helps for you... let me know if you have any trouble. |
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