IGGY
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join:2001-03-30
Chatham, IL
2 edits |  DVR service questions / review
I'd asked the tech today about a manual. He stated they hadn't had one made up yet. I totally forgot I had the .pdf from the Insight website. I'm getting used to the TV Guide element again. I think parts of TV Guide and parts of LocalSource should be combined then you'd have a bang of a product offering. My post here »Re: Bye bye Insight ( this is 1 post - not the entire thread ) has my 1st peek thoughts. After a review of the .pdf though I may still have some questions I need answered.
Ok the biggest negative I see so far. Is not being able to record 1 channel while watching another. Very big negative - most DVR products - Tivo or ReplayTV allow you do this. We tested this this evening. It was a no go. And the .pdf file I'm reading confirms this.
"Please note: you can not tune to another channel while recording a program."
Very negative - boo hiss boo hiss.
Scheduling a program is very easy - big plus!! Quality of the recording is top of the line for digital channels. A little less quality for non digital channels. But I would say this is to be expected do to the source.
The picture quality on digital looks even better than the old box to me. Maybe it's just wishful thinking.:) But on our tv the quality does seem even better. The old box provided very high quality picture on our low end 32 inch tv as well though. The new box just seems to do it a bit better. This may be do to how it's hooked up.
I'm able to get some HDTV channels to work without the SVideo cable hook up. Please see the link posted above for more details on our setup and lack of DVI connector. HBO SHO Bravo HDTV and I think one other show up. ShowTime is just a big square box though on the HDTV version. HBO and Bravo are almost full screen with the top and bottom having black bars. Sort of like a wider - wide screen. I'm sure this is do to the aspect ratio. A few other HDTV channels we don't currently receive and I see why now. 775 ESPN HD 776 Discovery HD Theater 777 HD Net 778 HD Net Movies we need to pay $7.95 a month more for this package? I really wish we could get the Insight website updated with current information. Basically stating that the DVR package is available as well as the HD Pak. It is still stating that Springfield has no access to these services. But using a Louisville area code helped me to figure out why weren't getting the other channels. I bet phone reps would make my life hell again if we tried to add this pak. LOL hang on - I'm confused because the website says the $12.95 package includes those channels. Crap lol - maybe I'll need that SVideo hookup after all.
Insight Digital with DVR & HDTV gives you access to High Definition Television:
(HD-compatible television set required)
Programming from local networks in high definition
Access to BravoHD+, featuring the best in arts and entertainment television,
including the 2004 Summer Olympics in high definition
HBO and Showtime in high def (if you're an HBO or Showtime customer)
HDTV receiver
Access to Insight's HD Pak, which includes ESPN HD, Discovery HD Theatre, HDNet and HDNet Movies
Can I record On Demand TV and Pay-Per-View programs?
On Demand TV cannot be recorded with the DVR. You may record PPV programs like any other program.
Boo hiss on not being able to record ON Demand content. As some of it is older stuff no longer shown. I just watched a documentary today from I think 1998 or 1999 something like that from the HBO ON Demand.
I could have sworn the installer also stated HDTV couldn't be recorded. I figured this was do to the whole broadcast signal thing / digital broadcast marker not being worked out in Washington yet. So no big surprise there.
Can I record from the beginning of a program already in progress?
No. The DVR begins recording the program when you press the RECORD button on your remote.
Now with this - here are my thoughts. Since the recorder is already recording. By the way I sorted of tested this today - of course it didn't work. Let's say I'm watching a channel - don't change the channel - then hit record to have a copy in my saved programs. Since I was on the same station and had been watching the program - couldn't the box be programmed to add what it has record - to the content I get after I hit the record button? Hopefully that made some sense. If not oh well I guess.
Can I watch a program while I’m recording?
You can watch a previously recorded program when you are recording a live program. If you are recording a live program, changing channels will stop the recording. You will see a screen confirming that you want to change the channel and stop the recording.
That last part is a boo hiss as noted above before. I want to be able to record 1 channel while watching another.
Just some quick thoughts and views. I did see a bit of tiling on 1 channel today with the new box. We'd been seeing multiple channels tile today with the old box. Hadn't had that happen in ages though. Even though TV Guide offers less information on programs than LocalSource and even though the flip bar for TV Guide is way huge. I can definitely say the new boxes and features are a big plus. A little tweaking might be in order. But so far things have been easy to figure out and have worked smooth.
This is a known issue from what I saw in the OOL forums. The HDTV / DVR boxes seem to be a bit slow when changing channels. This was confirmed somewhat by the installer as well. Something else I just remembered is that when I'm viewing an HDTV station - 1 of the 3 I can view. I'm not able to get the flip bar to come up. Is this just particular to my setup? I confirmed we have only 3 HDTV channels we can view HBO, SHO and Bravo HDTV - this may be do to our setup or maybe we need another package included with our service - not 100% sure. The square box look ( so to speak ) is now occurring on HBO HDTV - but SHO HDTV looks like the wider wide aspect now. So the square box effect must having something to do with the how the source was filmed etc. Probably would look just fine on an actual HDTV.:) The DVR box seems to have a suggestion record type of feature. Since when I selected 1 BBC America program it added BBC World News which I'd not manually selected. I think Tivo's have a similar function. Is there are way to turn it off?
I thought I had a few other things I wanted to add. But to tired to remember what they were now.;)
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WeKnSmith
join:2001-08-09
Noblesville, IN
 ·AT&T Midwest
| Re: DVR service questions
said by IGGY  :
...Ok the biggest negative I see so far. Is not being able to record 1 channel while watching another. Very big negative - most DVR products - Tivo or ReplayTV allow you do this. We tested this this evening. It was a no go. And the .pdf file I'm reading confirms this.
"Please note: you can not tune to another channel while recording a program."
Very negative - boo hiss boo hiss...
I don't have time right now to read all of your post Iggy, but I wanted to dispel one thing. As the owner of a ReplayTV, a Series2 Stand Alone TiVo, 2 Series1 DirecTiVos, and 2 Series2 DirecTiVos, I can confirm that standard ReplayTVs & TiVos CANNOT interact with two live streams at the same time.
The only models that can do this is the DirecTiVo (now known as a DirecTV DVR powered by TiVo). DirecTiVos have the unique ability to record two live shows while you play back a third prerecorded show. When I say unique, I mean unique to the TiVo & ReplayTV line ups. There are other products out there that do this:
1. Ultimate TV - Microsoft/DirecTV product that is discontinued, but I still in use & still supported by DirecTV.
2. Scientific Atlanta Cable box - This is a device that is available to cable providers, and in my opinion Insight appears to have made a mistake by not considering the inability for the Motorola product to support two live streams. (I'm not sure if this is the correct product, but I have seen a demo of one of their products that supported dual tuners »www.sciatl.com/consumers/Exp8000HD.htm )
3. Various homemade PC based DVR product - I know that there are several out there that support multiple video capture cards. Some of these even support the ability for one master computer to "manage" other PCs and have all of them work together to spread the recording across the network.
I may have missed some other products.
What I can't wait for is the new DirecTiVo that will support HD. It is due out Q1 of 2004, and will support DirecTV, DirecTV HD (high definition), and OTA (over the air) HD. It will be able to record any combination of two of these at the same time. I believe it will have a 200+ GB hard drive, and will support over 200 hours of standard definition TV (over 30 hours of HD). |
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IGGY
No Guru Just Here To Help
Premium,MVM
join:2001-03-30
Chatham, IL
4 edits | reply to IGGY
Still haven't figured out why I'm not seeing all the HDTV channels. But I did do a few captures to try and show the different types of aspect ratios I'm seeing. Keep in mind this is a very low end digital camera being used - so the pictures aren't doing the quality as much justice as a higher end digital camera would.
Thanks for the above post as well. That clears a few things up. I still think the option to record 1 channel while watching another is something most customers are going to want. Might even pay a few extra dollars for. Something to considered for future upgrades. Hopefully sooner than later.
Hopefully this type of functionality could be added without Tivo getting lawsuit happy. Like they are with EchoStar recently.
The program captures are from HBO HDTV, SHO HDTV, Bravo HDTV and 1 bad capture from TechTV - I should have paused that one before taking the picture. The defects in the pictures are form the camera used to take the picture. That isn't the quality shown on the TV. The quality is much higher.
Update I can now confirm that we needed to add the $7.95 HD Pak on top of the $12.95 upgraded to get all HDTV channels. We are now getting all HDTV channels on our $214 32 inch Apex tv which it seems is EDTV capable. Granted the quality won't be near what it would be with a true HDTV set. But it does provide a crisper picture and more programming options. Be interesting to see if there is improvemnet when we try the SVideo cable.
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johnxfl
join:2002-10-23
New Albany, IN
| reply to WeKnSmith
hey Iggy Turn off the box hit the menu putton and set it to
TV TYPE 4:3 PAN Scan
YPbPR 480I
4:3 OVERRIDE OFF
and on same of you hd channle they do not come in you will have to call your local office and have then fix your account i have 2 box and 1 box hade all the hd ch. and one that do not and I have to talk to a real management and have them look at you account numbers like 512 514 516 are same like that is how thay set it up if they try to give you a mateance call say (no) is on there side not your.
and thow settings i give you should fix all your broblems and you will not get HD pak CH like HDnew HDnetmov and ESPN and disHD |
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IGGY
No Guru Just Here To Help
Premium,MVM
join:2001-03-30
Chatham, IL
| Thanks for the reply. I'd actually brain farted on trying to look in the tv menu to see if we have the ability to change aspect ratios. We don't have a high end set as I mentioned above. So I just figured the option wouldn't be available. But it very well may be. It only seems to effect certain commercials ( example promos on HBO and SHO ). Spiderman on HBO HDTV started out that way today but then went to the larger wide screen ratio when the movie started. I'll play around with settings if I can and report back. Thanks. With the $7.95 HD package upgrade we are now receiving all HDTV channels. It seems I was right when I thought not all HDTV channels are including in the $12.95 DVR / HDTV package.
Everyone hold on to the seat of the pants. The phone rep who handle the call - handle things quickly and smoothly. The upgrade came through in minutes with no disruption in service or need to reset box. So thumbs on that. Yes I just made a positive comment in regards to someone who answered the phones. It happens from time to time. The rep even stated they hadn't done this type of upgrade yet. and would need to get someone to help. Must not have taken long to get help. Because the upgrade happened in minutes.
This now means Insight is seeing $20.90 more a month from our household.
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WeKnSmith
join:2001-08-09
Noblesville, IN
·AT&T Midwest
| said by IGGY :
..This now means Insight is seeing $20.90 more a month from our household.
Funny, I pay $41 plus tax for DirecTV w/locals & 3 DirecTV TiVo receivers. |
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Tbvindy
Premium
join:2000-11-16
Anderson, IN
 ·Comcast
1 edit | reply to IGGY
Re: DVR service questions / review
Can anyone confirm that the video component(PrPbY) works?I got mine today and was able to use the video out from the 6208 to my receiver to work but when I hooked up the component video output from the 6208 to my receiver I did not get a signal out.Other than that I am happy overall,specially with the optical out for the sound.I'm like Iggy I wish you could record one channel and watch another. Thanks for any help regarding the component video outputs. |
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IGGY
No Guru Just Here To Help
Premium,MVM
join:2001-03-30
Chatham, IL
1 edit | reply to IGGY
Ok after playing around a bit. I've found yes you can in fact record HDTV programming. The installer stated I shouldn't be able to. I still can't get the flip bar to show on HDTV channels. Not sure if this is by design. Once I start recording an HDTV station though - can't start recording manually - must be preset to record - but once recording starts - nothing else will work until the HDTV recording is done. Meaning you can't stop the recording - you can't turn off the cable box - switch channels etc. This may just be our current setup. Maybe when we get the SVideo cables hooked up things will change. This isn't how things work when recording non HDTV stations. There was something else I wanted to add here. But know I can't remember what it was.:)
The HDTV stations I've record off of so far are HBO HD, ESPN HD and HDNETMovies. The HDNETMovies was a 2 hour movie - the station glitched a few times during recording so it of course screwed up the final product. But the other stations worked smooth when recording. I included 3 captures to show the HDNETMovies recording. It was the 1st I tried today.
»broadband.motorola.com/dvr/dct6208.asp
»broadband.motorola.com/noflash/d···ops.html
»www.techtv.com/screensavers/prod···,00.html
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IGGY
No Guru Just Here To Help
Premium,MVM
join:2001-03-30
Chatham, IL
| reply to johnxfl
Re: DVR service questions
hey Iggy Turn off the box hit the menu putton and set it to
TV TYPE 4:3 PAN Scan
YPbPR 480I
4:3 OVERRIDE OFF
Did the PAN Scan with OVERRIDE on at 480i and it solved the problem. But it's a bit stretched and honestly only a few shows needed this and we've started to get used to the square box. Played around with a few settings. Changed the override to 480P as a test. Since EDTV should do the 480P and it is suppose to make a quality difference. Which to my eyes it did - but I was unable to use any menu or browser functions at all. So until we get the SVideo cables = everything is back to defaults. Very handy menu though. Thanks for the tip. The screen only shows up every once in awhile for me though. But you can watch the cable box window for which options to change.
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usk546
Premium
join:2003-02-19
Nicholasville, KY | reply to IGGY
Re: DVR service questions / review
How big of a hard drive does the dvr have?Just wondering as i get set up the 14th. |
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IGGY
No Guru Just Here To Help
Premium,MVM
join:2001-03-30
Chatham, IL
4 edits | A few of my links above can give you more info on specs.
The .pdf only says this
How many hours of programming can I store?
Your DVR can record up to 40 hours of standard definition programming, or up to 10 hours of high-def programming.
I'm recording at the moment so I can't flip my box up to see the bottom. But if there using the Motorola DCT6208 the page I linked above states DCT6208 80 GB storage capacity. I can't find the model number listed on the work order either. If the model is the DCT5100 that page doesn't currently list specs. »broadband.motorola.com/noflash/dct5100.html
I think the DCT6208 is the model being used actually.
»www.iggyz.com/InsightDigitalCabl···HDTV.pdf WARNING this is a .pdf file it will display on clicking the link if you have Adobe Acrobat or another .pdf file reader installed. The file is the DVR / HDTV manual.
The box will allow you to record 1 show and watch a previously recorded show. But I'd really like to see being able to record 1 channel while watching another. That and TV Guide really not having good information on shows ( unlike LocalSource ) are my only complaints really with the product.
I do wish someone would post if they can use the flip bar while watching HDTV. I should have the SVideo cables later this week to see if that helps the situation out any.
From playing around with the hidden aspect ratio menu. I get the feeling once we up the resolution using the SVideo cables we'll see the flip bar when using HDTV. Either way we've definitely put our 32 inch Apex and the new DVR product through it's paces since getting it.
Had few minor recording problems which I'm trying to troubleshoot. But so far a very stable and fun product to use. Long overdue in my opinion.
I just looked at the bottom of our cable box. We're using a DCT6208/1000.
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thyatis9
join:2002-02-06
New Castle, IN
| I am getting the flip bars using standard video. Because the bastards wouldn't do dvi what is the deal with that. The tech said that they get charged more for more things on. And he also said that svideo might not be on. I have a plasma screen which only has one component in, i guess i need to get a new stero to do that. But anyway, very annoying about dvi, wonder if there is a way to hack it. *did i say that*
And here are my comments
I just got it installed tonight, and my first thoughts are HO HUM not a very big deal. I wish i could say record all smallville episodes and it would or i like shows on dogs and it would do that, i think some other product does that either tivo or replay but i have heard it done.
HDTV bah who cares, 3 channels not a big deal to me at all. What would be nice if channel 8 was replaced with the hdtv one, not having to go into channel 775 or something ot get it, so i most likely will never use it.
Also if you record hdtv you get 10 hours of recording time not 40.
I am lookign into directv i think, i am paying $103 including tax for 1 inet connection and the digital cable. And if you have ever heard from me when they went to insightbb i went from 3 connections down to 1 because of that 12kps BS.
I think that the TIVOs etc have a much nicer interface.
The interface is very dull and boring, i miss the guide.
It is a good addon i guess but i wish they put more thought into it, and went with a better product then the motorola, but i guess there is a contract there somewhere. Insight needs to stop following in other people's footsteps like time warner and comcast because they are using the same product, and think out side the box.
Well i will keep it for a while and if i decide i like it enough i will keep it. I am looking into the disadvanatges of Directv and seeing the prices. |
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thyatis9
join:2002-02-06
New Castle, IN | this is what they should have got
DCT6408 DVR
---- This is the dual tuner version of the 6208. This allows for the ability to record one channel and watch another with the same specs as the 6208. |
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thyatis9
join:2002-02-06
New Castle, IN
| dvi update
Ok i have been doing some reading BOTH comcast and time warner don't have dvi however, they did have once, the firmware got upgraded then downgraded due to bugs. THey have been told that motorola will be fixing it and releasing a new one soon. SO maybe hopefully i will get my dvi soon
3 years later |
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IGGY
No Guru Just Here To Help
Premium,MVM
join:2001-03-30
Chatham, IL
| reply to IGGY
I've just been told that later on in the year we should hopefully see an update that will allow the boxes to record a show while watching another channel. I hate to have to wait. But nice to know it's in the works. That option will pretty much complete my wish list for the product. Now if those speed tiers show up soon. I can go from being disgruntled to happy again. At least for a few weeks.:)
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IGGY
No Guru Just Here To Help
Premium,MVM
join:2001-03-30
Chatham, IL
| reply to thyatis9
" I wish i could say record all smallville episodes and it would or i like shows on dogs and it would do that"
The product for me seems to do just that. I thought I mentioned this above. i found the functionality annoying actually. But when I chose to every day record several BBCAmerica shows - the cable box kept adding BBC World News and few other programs from that channel that I didn't want to watch. So I had to continually go in and delete them. It would be nice if we had an option to turn this functionality on or off.
As for recording all episodes of a show. You should be able to set it to record any program constantly when shown on a station. None of my previous captures seem to show the proper button to use. The button looks like a clock. Using that button should help you to set the box to record a show any time it plays.
Having not used a Tivo or Replay TV interface before. I can't really make a statement of liking one over the other. But I think the TV Guide interface is easy enough to use and understand.
As for DVI my installer stated they are sent out with DVI connectors. But not SVideo cables. My installer didn't think HDTV would work for me until I at least got an SVideo cable. Luckily this wasn't the case.
Anyone else having problems receiving HDNet and HDMovies this evening? I called and the lady said they may still be doing work. But didn't go into detail. She just stated she'd send a signal to our box and that should fix it in 20 minutes. This seems to be the new standard procedure and statement. The channels went south for me about 9:30 or 10PM this evening. All other HDTV channels are working fine. I missed HDNet Hogan's Heroes do to this.:)
»www.hd.net/schedule_today.html
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IGGY
No Guru Just Here To Help
Premium,MVM
join:2001-03-30
Chatham, IL
| reply to IGGY
Woot woot!! Big good job to the webmaster of the Insight site for updating the information for services offered for Springfield. Hopefully this is a sign of things to come. Used to be it took ages for the website to get an update. This one took place in a matter of days.:)
Ordered the SVideo cable tonight. Went with Monster Cables. Should be picking them up sometime tomorrow night. I'll report back if using them works and or improves anything. Currently using an older set of Monster Cables but not SVideo. These things aren't cheap that's for sure. The company who makes them has to be making a fortune.
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WeKnSmith
join:2001-08-09
Noblesville, IN
·AT&T Midwest
1 edit | said by IGGY :
...These things aren't cheap that's for sure. The company who makes them has to be making a fortune.
From personal experience with mid to high end A/V equipment I can say that investing in Monster cables is a waste of money. Do a little Googling on the subject. You will find that lots of folks agree. I'd suggest spending $15 to $30 at the local Radio Shack on their mid tier stuff (Gold Series), not the high end cables (FusionAV, also a waste). |
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IGGY
No Guru Just Here To Help
Premium,MVM
join:2001-03-30
Chatham, IL
| Well I'd disagree on this one. Personally for me I've never found anything in Radio Shack to be quality. I know many hobbyist etc would disagree. There policy of interrogation at checkout also turns me off to them. The Monster Cable brand has served me well in the past. I'm sure they won't disappoint this time around. But as it is with any product. I'm sure there is a very large markup. And that the cost of manufacturing, shipping, quality etc are a lot less then the sticker price. That was the reason I made my cost statement above. But my opinion in most cases - I've been proved wrong on this a few times - is you get what you pay for. The cables are bought and will be picked up tonight. So no big deal either way. And I'll make a little commission to boot - so no worries.
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IGGY
No Guru Just Here To Help
Premium,MVM
join:2001-03-30
Chatham, IL
| SVideo cables made a difference in video quality. The new cables also came with audio cables. Those cables improved sound slightly. I still am unable to get the flip bar or any of the other menu features to work when viewing an HDTV station. May be time for a service call unfortunately.
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