New Motorola STB

[Crazybob]

I was having problems with my HD DVR STB with picture blanking out and showing EAS(Emergency Alert System) on the display when they were not doing any EAS testing, lock ups when switching from HD to SD channel, Comcast also could not address the STB, Etc.

Well, they installed a BRAND NEW Motorola DCT3416 & it is working perfectly. I even have a slight improvement in my SD channels & the higher capacity DVR disk drive is nice for all the HD recording I do.

Hopefully, Motorola has worked out alot of the bugs it has had with previous units.

Bob

[abeas]

Motorola should stop making technology. Their cable boxes are horrible and full of bugs, and the cell phone my work makes me carry around is junk too.
Good luck though with the new model. I hope you found one that works well!

[Crazybob]

Yah, they should stick to making Integrated Circuit chips & Radio's.

Wish I had SA equipment here, since they know Cable TV. They have been making Headend equipment & STB's ever since Cable was started.

Bob

[Splicer]

So you decided against satellite? I knew you'd come to your senses ;) ...

[Crazybob]

They fixed the Hum Bar problems that was causing glitches on digital channels & bars when I would view analog channels (2-99) to the TV with the STB bypassed. Took them long enough! Decided to give them another chance & the new STB seems to be working good so far.

Bob

[Crazybob]

So much for the good working STB! While ending a show on my DVR it asked me if I wanted to delete the program. I deleted it. Then hit the My DVR button on the remote & it would come up with a screen that said setup on it with garbage charactors on it. Hit select & it took me to the setup menu, instead of the DVR menu, even when I tryed it over & over.
Power reset the STB & everything is now back to normal. Motorola junk!

Bob
:shootout:

[abeas]

I love when you push buttons on the remote, like inputting a channel, and nothing happens, so you get mad and keep pushing them, and then about 10 seconds later eveery button you pressed happens and the box goes crazy. This is partly why I switched to cablecard on my big TV, and moved the DVR upstairs where it wouldn't be used as much.

[gparris]

Crazybob, I have a friend who used to have TWC in my area that had to move to Fridley, MN due to a job transfer.
Having finally moved into her home, built in 1958, Comcast came out as scheduled for the hookups that never existed, the older couple had used only OTA for years.
The old saying that you may never know what you have lost until you do applies to what she had with TWC in my area for service, Comcast sucks.
The morons at Comcast in the Twin Cities area signed her up as she requested for HD service, but the installer decided that the SD box was fine, even though she begged for a HD DVR like she had in my area of TWC, any HD DVR - even a HD STB if none were available, but no.
She called me frantically, asking me what to look for on the set top box, as this so-called "installer" from Comcast insisted it was the "right box". :whistle:

I asked her to look for a component video output - that red-green-blue RCA output on the back of the STB:
There were NONE...just the composite video-yellow with the red/white RCA analogue jacks and a coaxial digital audio jack...ugh!
She told him that if he installed it, even though she had specified HD service (and was paying for it), she couldn't GET HD service to her 52" HD-ILA JVC set - no way, with that box! He just couldn't understand the concept at all.

Calling Comcast made no difference, as the robots at the end of the phone couldn't understand what was happening, either, so I told her one thing she COULD do:
Promise not to pay for more than basic cable, as that is all she could get with that stupid cable box.
Crazybob: WHAT Comcast box number does she SUPPOSED to get for HD DVRs?
What would you do, too? (I told her to get Dishnetwork and their HD DVR).
Comcast in Illinois to my immediate south wouldn't have pulled this, at least not anymore (since they know me and screwed up once).

[Crazybob]

I would have her call & ask to talk with a supervisor about it. Don't even talk to the Customer Service Rep. I believe they use SA STB's in the area's taken over by Comcast. I am not sure if they plan to switch to Motorola's. I use the DCT 3416 I STB.
As far of the SA STB's I believe 57U is more familiar with them & could maybe give you the model number for the SA HD DVR STB. Good luck getting it resolved!

Bob

[Splicer]

I have never seen a STB have a ccoaxial digital audio output connection without also having componant video connections...not saying there aren't any...What box does she have???

[Ratman]

Motorola DCT-2500?
http://broadband.motorola.com/consumers/includes/zoom_image.asp?img=http%3A//broadband.motorola.com/consumers/images/dct2500_back.jpg&w=996&h=196

[gparris]

The Comcast site in her area shows a DCT-5100, odd, not that model, though the CSRs knew nothing about it....strange.

Splicer, the many of the older SD STBs in my area always had coaxial digital outputs, but not optical digital, causing me many problems with HT hookups.
Many customers had only one coaxial digital input on the AVRs at that time and I hoped for the day when optical digital outputs would appear and they do...only on our 8000/8300HD DVR models here in Wisconsin-TWC.
(The model Ratman is showing is an example of this SD STB with Coaxial Digital Outputs).

Crazybob, thank you, I will ask for higher management to figure this mess out, hopefully someone in Comcastland Minnesota has a clue since taking it over from TWC.

[mikehbkwm]

That DCT-2500 also has optical, but they don't show that in the pic. Splicer how long have you been in the cable industry again.

[Splicer]

25+ years...

[Crazybob]

The Comcast site in her area shows a DCT-5100, odd, not that model, though the CSRs knew nothing about it....strange.


Here is some info on the 5100. Doesn't look like it has a DVR though. Maybe Comcast is going to switch them over to Motorola.

http://broadband.motorola.com/hdtv/dct5100.html

I'm sure there is going to be alot of confusion for CSR's with these new area's that used to be TWC.

Bob
:wave:

[gparris]

I will probably ask for the DCT-3416 like you have in your signature and see if they have one for her.
This is not going to be a good situation for anyone there, if the CSRs don't have a clue of what to give for new subscribers.
Could it have been that Comcast in your area is OUT of these new HD DVRs, already?

If this keeps up, I am going to ask her to cancel Comcast HDTV service altogether and get Directv - maybe new subs will get their hands on a new HR20 and Slimline dish sooner there than here (I have heard of longer waiting times for installations than usual).

[Crazybob]

They have the DCT3412 also. The diference being the 3412 has a 120gb Hard Drive & the 3416 has the bigger 160gb Hard Drive, which is nice for HD recording since it takes alot of disk space for HD. SD recording hardly takes any space.

Bob

[bicker]

So much for the good working STB! While ending a show on my DVR it asked me if I wanted to delete the program. I deleted it. Then hit the My DVR button on the remote & it would come up with a screen that said setup on it with garbage charactors on it. My understanding is that this problem was due to a bad file in the download provided by TV Guide, not a problem with Motorola hardware or software. TV Guide evidently has fixed the file, and the problem is gone.

[Crazybob]

It's been ok so far now. Maybe you are right. I sure hope so! Thanks for the info.

Bob

[gparris]

Crazybob, my friend said she called Comcast Fridley, MN and the "real reason" she couldn't get the HDDVR you have, 120GB or 160GB is Comcast is OUT of them.
Get This: Comcast claims it is out of ANY HD STB right now...very odd, IMO.
Comcast MN CSR said they will continue to "credit" the account until a HD STB can be found, even though the install that was done was arranged many weeks ago and Comcast MN should have "known" about it to reserve something HD in a STB by then. :whistle:
Right now, Comcast SD and analogue really looks awful on her 52" JVC HDTV set.
I am glad you are enjoying your new HD DVR with 160GB and that you are not in the old TWC area, now Comcast, that is shafting even its new installation customers. :(

[57U]

As an FYI, with more and more people getting HDTVs and wanting HD STBs, there is a shortage of HD STBs North America wide. Some people are waiting months for theirs... It's not just Comcast and it's not just Motorola.

[gparris]

Too bad she couldn't have kept her SA8300HD DVR with TWC and just reinitialized it (or something) to make it work in Comcastland, MN.
Even in my area, you can get your hands on a HD STB, though the HD DVR is on backorder - unless you are a new customer.
Seems as though it is more of a Comcast problem taking over TWC territory and failing miserably, IMO.
Here is another example of why satellite systems like Dish and Directv make so much more sense at times, she could have very easily gone to MN from WI and got service with the same STB and been done with it, except if it required a big installation, which it didn't.

[Splicer]

Just a name change...The people are the same :headb: ...

[browndk26]

FYI

Here in Louisville, KY I just swapped out a Motorola 6412 for a 6416 due to software issues. I did not have to wait to get it and no mention by Insight of a shortage of these boxes.

[bicker]

Makes me think I want to have two in house, in case one goes bad. :)

[gparris]

Now I have three, one for each HDTV, though one of them gets the least use, I could possibly exchange it for a standard HD non-DVR box, I keep it anyway, in case I have a problem with the other main-use DVR boxes.

(I had this third one installed/setup for over 2 years, now.) :cool:

The difference would be only $7.95/month less if I had only the HD box w/o the DVR charge, but the peace-of-mind is worth it.

Now that our areas has had some HD DVR shortages in my area, I am glad I keep mine just the way they are. :)

[Wjhopwood]

I was having problems with my HD DVR STB with picture blanking out and showing EAS(Emergency Alert System) on the display when they were not doing any EAS testing, lock ups when switching from HD to SD channel, Comcast also could not address the STB, Etc.

Well, they installed a BRAND NEW Motorola DCT3416 & it is working perfectly. I even have a slight improvement in my SD channels & the higher capacity DVR disk drive is nice for all the HD recording I do.

Hopefully, Motorola has worked out alot of the bugs it has had with previous units.

Bob

I am new to HD reception so forgive me if this request for information doesn't make much sense to you veterans out there.

I have a new 26" Sony Bravia LCD HDTV with ASTC tuner and until recently was on analog cable with Comcast. I was quite happy with the SONY TV and was able to get good local station HD by using my outside antenna and the Sony's Digital setting. Wanting more HD and HBO, I upgraded my Comcast cable to Digital On Demand Plus One. Everything seems to be OK except that the HD pictures I get through the Motorola STB are nowhere near as sharp as the HD I get by by-passing the STB and going back to my outside antenna. Is this right? Seems like I should be getting sharper HD through the STB. Although it is clearly a Motorola STB, I can't find a Model No. on it anywhere. It also can not accomodate the HDMI cable which came with the SONY and when I hook up a composite three wire cable like the diagram in the SONY TV manual shows to do, I get nothing but snow--no pix or sound.
So back to the simple connection the installer made. The STB looks like it can do everything but cook but I can't find out if it is set for 1080i, 720p or whatever except half of my supposed HD programs through the STB have black borders top, bottom, and sides, and the viewable picture is smaller than a 20" set when the actual screen is 26." It doesn't do this when I go to the Sony ATSC tuner and outside antenna. In that format the HD pictures fill the entire screen. Any ideas? Is this normal HD on Comcast cable? Or is the STB not set up right?

[57U]

You can only get HD signals via HDMI/DVI or component video - not via composite, S-video or RF -coax. See the HDTV FAQ "Cables & Connections".

Once properly connected, you need to set up the STB to output HD - either 1080i or 720P for the HD channels and set the 4:3 override for 480i/p. See the HDTV FAQ "Motorola STBs".

Not all programmes on HD channels are HD. Many are simply upconverted 4:3. See the HDTV FAQ "Black Bars". and "What's available in HD". The fact that you have bars above and below the image indicates that you have an improper connection between the STB and the TV.

It'd be really good if you found the model number on the STB (perhaps on the back).

[Wjhopwood]

You can only get HD signals via HDMI/DVI or component video - not via composite, S-video or RF -coax. See the HDTV FAQ "Cables & Connections".

Once properly connected, you need to set up the STB to output HD - either 1080i or 720P for the HD channels and set the 4:3 override for 480i/p. See the HDTV FAQ "Motorola STBs".

Not all programmes on HD channels are HD. Many are simply upconverted 4:3. See the HDTV FAQ "Black Bars". and "What's available in HD". The fact that you have bars above and below the image indicates that you have an improper connection between the STB and the TV.

It'd be really good if you found the model number on the STB (perhaps on the back).

Thanks 57U. I was beginning to figure out that I needed the component connection for HD but why in hell didn't the Comcast installer hook me up that way? His order called for an upgrade to digital with HD. As you confirm, some wiring diagrams I've seen on line indicate that HD will not come through without HDMI (which I can't use because my Motorola STB has no output connector which fits the HDMI cable) or component connectors, but I figured the installer must know more than I did or he would have set it up that way.

As for the component connectors, all I have are several sets of 3-wire connectors which came with previous TVs I owned which have yellow, red, and white plugs. The diagrams all show red, green, and blue plugs on the component connectors. Are the red, green, and blue connector types different from the yellow, white, and red types? Also the diagrams show "RCA type" audio connectors which are only the 2-wire type, with white and red plugs. Those I don't have but will have to get along with the red, green, and blue if the ones I have are different. Seems to me Comcast should have provided all that but getting through to anybody there who is knowledgeable about this subject is no easy task.

[57U]

Your installer was an idiot, or lazy, as many of them are.

I'm not sure if Comcast normally supply the cables - many cable companies do. Check with an outlet to see if you can pick them up.

You should get yourself some component video cables (with the red/green/blue) ends. You can buy these for about $20 or less from Monoprice.com.

For the audio, you can use the red/white analogue audio cables - simply don't use the composite (yellow) portion - sometimes people even separate the wires, or simply leave the yellow one unconnected.

Your comcast STB may have a DVI connector - you could use that for video and use a DVI-HDMI cable (instead of component video). See the HDTV FAQ "DVI/HDMI Information".

[Crazybob]

Does your STB have a DVR built in & have a DVI connector in back? Then it's probably a 6400 I or II series. Comcast usually uses the Component Video for there installs & it's up to you if you want DVI/HDMI or HDMI/HDMI type hookup.
I think the contractor installers are the ones that do the worst job's of installing, compared to there in house installers.

Bob

[Wjhopwood]

57U and Bob:

Many thanks for your help. I finally discovered the Model No. on my Motorola STB on a tiny sticker on the bottom. It says DCT 6200/2005. Yes, it has a connector on the back which says "DVI-D Out." That outlet doesn't fit the HDMI cable which came with my TV but the TV Owners Manual indicates that one should obtain a DVI-HDMI adapter to take care of that problem.

One other question, should the connector on the back of he STB marked "Out to TV/VCR" be left disconnected or left connected to the TV when the Component or HDMI method is hooked up? Some on-line diagrams still show the CoAx line between the STB and TV as a dashed line. I don't know whether that means connected or alternate connection.

[57U]

There is no need to connect the RF-coax if you have the component video or DVI connection.

Instead of purchasing a DVI adaptor, you may wish to consider a DVI-HDMI cable, which can be purchased from a computer store or monoprice.com, for probably less money (say $5-20). A direct cable is better than using an adaptor.

[Wjhopwood]

57U--Again, thanks for your help. I'm learning a lot thanks to you, Bob, and this forum. Will go shopping for a DVI/HDMI cable as you advise. If unsuccessful in locating one I'll try for the component cable. An adapter wouldn't help anyway because after taking a closer look at the cable which came with my TV I see it was not an HDMI cable after all but a cable apparently meant to connect my TV and my PC which would be useless to me in this circumstance. WJH

[shawnsat]

I have a Sharp HDTV with a Motorola STB DVR from Comcast hooked up via HDMI. To get 5.1 audio do I have to run the toslink from the STB directly to the AVR or is it OK to connect the STB to the TV with HDMI and then run the toslink from the TV to the AVR? I prefer running from the TV because then anything else I connect to the TV with HDMI (apple TV, PS3) will also be capeable of producing 5.1 audio through the AVR, if the TV can "pass it through" correctly. Any help is appreciated!

[57U]

It is unlikely that the TV will passthrough the DD5.1 signal - very few HDTVs do. You will likely need a direct connection to the AVR. See:

http://www.hdtvoice.com/voice/showthread.php?t=2046

The only way to see is to try, but it's unlikely to work.

[shawnsat]

57U,

I have it set up "passing through" now and I get sound, but I'm not sure if it's 5.1 or not. How can I tell?

[57U]

The AVR will usually have a light or display indicator when receiving DD5.1 material - see the operating manual. You'll, of course need to be on a channel with DD5.1.

You should be able to also see this "display" when viewing a DVD with DD5.1 material.

You can have surround sound with an incoming DD2.0 signal, using DPL, so simply hearing surround sound is NOT a proper indicator.

[EnSkywalker]

Anyone ever encountered the following on the Motorola 34xx (I think it is a 16 and I know it has the HDMI)?

I turn on the DVR and instead of the welcome screen I get a "Channel should be available shortly" message. I try and tune any of the channels and I still get the same message. I hit the swap button and I can tune all of my channels without any problem. I switch to the digital tuner on my JVC and the HD channels broadcast in the clear are fine.

To me it sounds like one of the tuners has gone bad. I tried the hard reboot and it seemed to help for a couple of days but it is back to doing it again. Insight is coming out Saturday morning to check on it and I hope they are bringing another box.

[Crazybob]

Could be a software problem also. Have you had your Cable Co. try doing a full reset of the STB from there computer system? By hard reboot I assume you mean unplugging it.
If they do a reset you should lose all your custom settings & favorites.
Although you could be right, one of the tuners could be bad.

Bob

[gparris]

Here is some info on the 5100. Doesn't look like it has a DVR though. Maybe Comcast is going to switch them over to Motorola.

http://broadband.motorola.com/hdtv/dct5100.html

I'm sure there is going to be alot of confusion for CSR's with these new area's that used to be TWC.

Bob
:wave:
UPDATE:
I visited her house in "Friendly" Fridley, MN this past weekend only to find a SA 8300HD DVR hooked up to her JVC 52" LCoS set. Cables were everywhere on her back deck, as the hookup was on the outside for every connection done on the backside of the house. So we spent time hiding cables inside and outside the house, something the Comcast installer refused to do during the winter setup in February...what a mess.
The box is the same as TWC has by me, but the Comcast programming is different, she says if she stops the playback and goes back to it, the programming on it starts in the beginning, every time...didn't do it with TWC.
She also misses no Universal HD ("Stargate Atlantis", "Firefly" in HD) and HDNET ("Enterprise" in HD) since Comcast won't carry it there vs. TWC's more "robust" (no, not really) HD lineup.
Just thought I would post a followup on this...thanks for your help.

[Crazybob]

57U has a SA8300HD STB I believe. He might be able to answer the question about the DVR not starting where it left off. I don't know if this is a configuration thing with that STB. My Motorola gives you the default of continuing where you left off or doing a rewind to the beginning.

I'm sure Comcast is changing the lineup to match the rest of the existing Comcast sites, so everything is the same.

Bob
:wave:

[57U]

Mine will start off where you left off, but only on the last programme you were watching - there are no "markers" for other programmes. Also, if you turn your DVR off and then back on, if you go into the list of programmes, you may not be able to get to the same point of the programme. Don't go into the list - see below:

What I do is tune to the "PVR channel" instead. In my area this is channel 950. Tuning to channel 950 always takes me to the point I left the programme - a paused still frame of the programme is always on Ch 950 and I simply hit "play".