57U
02-15-2004, 01:22 PM
Several useful tips for SA/Pace STBs are included in this FAQ:
- How to check signal strength and other diagnostics
- Rebooting (Warm & Cold)
- Viewing Formats
- Advanced Setup Wizard
- Various other items of interest.
Signal Strength/Diagnostics:
Here’s a step by step guide on how to access signal strength information on Scientific Atlanta STBs. I believe this works on all SA STBs. (Some US service providers use Passport instead of SARA - this may not work on those STBs) Much of this also applies to Pace STB (550, 551).
1. Tune to any digital station.
2. Depending on the STB, you may need to use the composite, S-video or component video connection.
3. On the box itself (not using the remote), press and hold the "+" (or select) button for a few seconds, the "envelope" (mail) light will come on. (the + button is the "bulls-eye" in the middle of the 4 "arrow" keys - on newer models like the SA8300HD it's the "select" button).
4. Press the "info" key next.
5. This takes you to all kinds of information.
6. Press the right and left arrow buttons (next to the "+" button) to scroll through the pages.
7. The signal strength information is on page 5. You need to look at the QAM side. The "level" should be between -10 and +10, with zero being about optimum (for digital stations). If the level is below -10, you'll see the number change to "orange" for "warning". You may have to change splitters, cable, etc to rectify the situation. Call your service provider and they'll usually rectify with better splitters, cable, possibly an amp or a new "drop" into your house. (Interestingly, many of us have found that the SA8300HD gives "false" signal strength readings of -20. If all other readings are "normal" and you've got no other issues, do not worry about a -20 reading on the SA8300HD)
8. On the same page is the Signal/Noise ratio. The S/N ratio is good if it’s at about 35 dB, although a good HD signal can be received with slightly lower numbers. If your S/N is around 30 (or less) though, that could be a source of problems.
9. You can change channels while in the diagnostic menu and see signal strengths, frequencies, etc for various channels, however, they shouldn’t vary by more than a few dBs. You will notice that you won’t be able to see all the information for analogue channels. It will take a few seconds for the information to refresh for the new channel, so be patient. Make sure you check the signal on the problem channel, as signals can vary.
10. When you’re done, press the exit key to exit.
You can also access this information from your couch as follows:
1. Make sure you are not on a VOD channel.
2. Hold the pause key on the remote for about 10 seconds until the mail light flashes on the front.
3. Press page up on the remote and then you can page up/down through the screen info.
While you are in the screens, pressing the "B" button on the remote changes the transparency of the background, allowing you to see the channel and the diagnostics at the same time.
---------------------------------------------------------------
Rebooting:
To reboot your STB without unplugging it, press the two volume buttons and the info button simultaneously (all three buttons at the same time on the STB itself). Do not touch anything on the box or the remote until the time appears (takes a couple of minutes). Even then, it will take some time for the IPG to reload its information.
You can also reboot your box from your couch (bolmsted):
1. Make sure you are not on a VOD channel
2 Press the pause button when the remote with the remote in VOD mode.
until the mail light flashes (just like for the diagnositics screen)
3. But instead of paging up to get into the diagnostic screens (and then up/down for various screens) you initally press page down
4. You will get a code on the front of the set top box. Press stop 3 times on the remote and voila it will reboot [the "LED" circle going around, or "boot" appears].
It's not a bad idea to reboot your STB once a month when you have no immediate need for it and it's not recording. These STBs seem to be a lot like computers, if you don't reboot them once in a while, errors seem to crop up...
Sometimes a "warm reboot" (above) is not enough to reset things. Try unplugging the unit for a minute (Cold Reboot) and replugging it in if the warm reboot doesn't work. Always give the unit some time after the reboot to "settle" - say 30 minutes.
----------------------------------------------------------------
What Format is Going to the TV?
The following applies to the SA3250HD - how to tell what the STB is transmitting to the TV in terms of format. (It also applies to the SA8000HDs that have passthrough enabled.)
You can check formats by viewing the small box that displays the STB output. It says 480i, 1080i, 720P, 480P depending on your channel selection, your "wizard setup" and whether you selected "pass-through (Auto-DVI/HDMI)" or "upconvert" in the "Settings" menu, etc.
You enable the small box by switching between channels that have different formats. Each time you switch between formats (720P and 1080i for example) you will see the small box. Only ABC HD, Fox-HD & PBS Detroit are currently 720P.
You can also enable the small box by repeatedly hitting the "#" button, but this enables the stretch mode, so be sure to switch back to "normal" to see the actual format. Hitting "#" on a 480i signal will force an HD output - don't know why - it goes back to 480i if you go back to "normal" (unstretched).
The SA8300HD shows the output format on the front of the PVR.
---------------------------------------------------------------
Advanced Setup Wizard:
The SA and Pace STBs have a setup wizard that you go through. See if you can find the page that guides you through the wizard. If you don't have it, follow the instructions below:
1. Turn the STB off.
2. Press the "Guide" and; "Info" buttons simultaneously (on the STB, not the remote).
3. This takes you to the wizard.
4. If you've got a 4:3 TV the wizard is very simple.
5. If you've got a 16:9 TV, then go into the "advanced" mode (which is still pretty simple)
Once you've finished the wizard which asks you the various formats your TV can display, exit the wizard and turn on the STB.
Whenever doing the setup, or troubleshooting, disconnect ALL video connections except the one you want to use. Use ONLY component video or HDMI/DVI, not both. When troubleshooting also remove S-video connections, etc. If you can't get the HDMI to work (the SA8300HD displays 480i on the front for example) then use the component video cables to perform the setup first, then plug in HDMI/DVI.
Note also that some HDTVs (especially flat panel Samsungs) do NOT accept certain signals like 480i over HDMI. You'll need to delete those in the advanced setup wizard, while using component video cables, or simply use component video cables.
Once you've completed the wizard, press the settings button twice and go to "set picture formats". Pick "passthrough" (auto-DVI/HDMI) as this will allow 480i, 720P (if enabled) and 1080i signals to go to the TV through the component video connection. If you pick "fixed" then you'll only get one format out of the STB.
If you only have one format out of the STB, the PQ is usually inferior and if you have a Plasma or CRT where you want to stretch the SD channels, your TV will not automatically stretch when switching from HD to SD.
When using the DVI/HDMI output the component output is disabled, and the pass-through option is now called Auto-DVI/HDMI in the settings (pressed twice menu) under picture format and is identical to the component passthrough but just with a different name.
Some HDTVs will NOT allow 480i/p when using DVI/HDMI inputs, use the formats that the TV will accept when using DVI/HDMI, or consider the component video connection.
TIPS - You can get "fancy" by deleting several of the formats in the original wizard. If you only enable 480i and 1080i, then 720P will be converted to 1080i and make surfing the HD channels much faster because the TV doesn't need to reformat each time you get to a station of a different format. Also, you can experiment with the "upconvert1" setting as this will send a 480P instead of 480i signal to the TV. You'll have to decide if this is better or worse than the TV doing the upconversion. You should "enable" 480i/P STANDARD, NOT widescreen in the wizard.
General Setup Wizard pdf below:
http://www.scientificatlanta.com/ExplorerClubGuides/getting_started/4003114B.pdf
See page 15 of the above to see what "fixed, passthrough, upconvert1/2" do. (I have now re-enabled all my formats since Upconvert1 will output 480P and 1080i and If I want to enable all formats, I simpy use "passthrough" instead - great for comparisons and for "fast surfing" when using upconvert1.)
Summary, for most HDTVs, enable 480i Standard, 720P and 1080i and "passthrough/auto-DVI/HDMI"
You may wish to visit the SA site as they sometimes have additional information on these STBs.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
One final recommendation. Go through all of the settings on your STB and see what the various options are and whether they are set correctly. Many people never bother to understand what the various settings in the STB do, consequently, they don't get the best performance from the STB, leaving the "default" settings which are often not correct. If you don't know what the setting does, if you press the "info" button, it'll usually tell you. Same goes for the user settings in your TV.
SA 2000/4 Remote Operating Manual Click the link below.
http://www.scientificatlanta.com/ExplorerClubGuides/getting_started/715117.pdf
For those people who have Passport Software instead of SARA, courtesy of TheDreamer:
Press and hold Select and Exit...until the clock changes to the diag message and then press exit again (some people tell you to tune to the diagnostic channel instead, but then you have know what the channel is first, which varies depending on area and can change if they put a real channel in the spot...which happened when they added more spanish programming to the 800 range...bumping it from 811 to 841.)
http://www.scientificatlanta.com/ExplorerClubGuides/getting_started/4003114B.pdf (General Setup Guide)
One final recommendation. Go through all of the settings on your STB and see what the various options are and whether they are set correctly. Many people never bother to understand what the various settings in the STB do, consequently, they don't get the best performance from the STB, leaving the "default" settings which are often not correct. If you don't know what the setting does, if you press the "info" button, it'll usually tell you. Same goes for the user settings in your TV.
For more tips on the SA8X00HD - see the following link.
http://www.hdtvoice.com/voice/showthread.php?t=13605
Hint - The "#" button to the right of the zero invokes the various zoom modes. If you've "cropped" any of your screen, make sure you didn't hit this button by mistake. Hit it repeatedly to get back to "normal".
Also, see the SA eClub. http://www.scientificatlanta.com/explorerclub/default.asp
Last Resort
If for some reason you can't get the STB to do what you want and you've rebooted it by unplugging it, etc. This is a "last resort" item. You can reformat the HDD.
The Explorer 8X00 has a fairly simple procedure to erase the drive (start clean). Note that this process will erase all scheduled programming and will cause the unit to reload all programming data from your cable provider. On the plus side, it will repair any fragmenting problems.
"Press and hold PAUSE until Mail led is lit. Press PAGE down or (-),
and then press LIST three times. Turn box off. When turned-on,
formatting will begin."
Signal Strength
If you have a broadband connection on your computer (via cable). The following link should provide you with a general indication of the signal strength at your house.
This is good for people who don't have a STB or whose STB (the SA8300HD) provides erroneous readings.
http://192.168.100.1/signal.html
The site is designed for Motorola, so if you have a different modem, it may not work.
Signal strength above -10dB is adequate for digital channels and a S/N ratio of 35 is good. Any splitters "downstream" of where you have your cable modem connected would, of course, lower the signal strength.
For those with Pace STBs, much of the above applies. Some does not. To get into the diagnostics, see the following. This will allow you to check signal strength, etc.
Access to the Signal strength and other internal parameters is achieved by pressing the center button of the 5 button clustor on the STB (not remote) and wait for the envelope logo to light up on the small screen, then press the GUIDE button on the STB. Page +/Page - on the remote allows the different data pages to be viewed. The EXIT button on the remote is pressed when all is done. Videotron has put SA firmware on the Pace STBs, so the instructions in the SA portion of this post may now be applicable.
Remote Control Codes and Manuals
http://www.urcsupport.com/
Diagnostics Explanations (Models may differ)
http://www.dslreports.com/faq/sciatl/3.1%20Using%20diagnostic%20screens
Please PM me if you have any comments or suggestions.
- How to check signal strength and other diagnostics
- Rebooting (Warm & Cold)
- Viewing Formats
- Advanced Setup Wizard
- Various other items of interest.
Signal Strength/Diagnostics:
Here’s a step by step guide on how to access signal strength information on Scientific Atlanta STBs. I believe this works on all SA STBs. (Some US service providers use Passport instead of SARA - this may not work on those STBs) Much of this also applies to Pace STB (550, 551).
1. Tune to any digital station.
2. Depending on the STB, you may need to use the composite, S-video or component video connection.
3. On the box itself (not using the remote), press and hold the "+" (or select) button for a few seconds, the "envelope" (mail) light will come on. (the + button is the "bulls-eye" in the middle of the 4 "arrow" keys - on newer models like the SA8300HD it's the "select" button).
4. Press the "info" key next.
5. This takes you to all kinds of information.
6. Press the right and left arrow buttons (next to the "+" button) to scroll through the pages.
7. The signal strength information is on page 5. You need to look at the QAM side. The "level" should be between -10 and +10, with zero being about optimum (for digital stations). If the level is below -10, you'll see the number change to "orange" for "warning". You may have to change splitters, cable, etc to rectify the situation. Call your service provider and they'll usually rectify with better splitters, cable, possibly an amp or a new "drop" into your house. (Interestingly, many of us have found that the SA8300HD gives "false" signal strength readings of -20. If all other readings are "normal" and you've got no other issues, do not worry about a -20 reading on the SA8300HD)
8. On the same page is the Signal/Noise ratio. The S/N ratio is good if it’s at about 35 dB, although a good HD signal can be received with slightly lower numbers. If your S/N is around 30 (or less) though, that could be a source of problems.
9. You can change channels while in the diagnostic menu and see signal strengths, frequencies, etc for various channels, however, they shouldn’t vary by more than a few dBs. You will notice that you won’t be able to see all the information for analogue channels. It will take a few seconds for the information to refresh for the new channel, so be patient. Make sure you check the signal on the problem channel, as signals can vary.
10. When you’re done, press the exit key to exit.
You can also access this information from your couch as follows:
1. Make sure you are not on a VOD channel.
2. Hold the pause key on the remote for about 10 seconds until the mail light flashes on the front.
3. Press page up on the remote and then you can page up/down through the screen info.
While you are in the screens, pressing the "B" button on the remote changes the transparency of the background, allowing you to see the channel and the diagnostics at the same time.
---------------------------------------------------------------
Rebooting:
To reboot your STB without unplugging it, press the two volume buttons and the info button simultaneously (all three buttons at the same time on the STB itself). Do not touch anything on the box or the remote until the time appears (takes a couple of minutes). Even then, it will take some time for the IPG to reload its information.
You can also reboot your box from your couch (bolmsted):
1. Make sure you are not on a VOD channel
2 Press the pause button when the remote with the remote in VOD mode.
until the mail light flashes (just like for the diagnositics screen)
3. But instead of paging up to get into the diagnostic screens (and then up/down for various screens) you initally press page down
4. You will get a code on the front of the set top box. Press stop 3 times on the remote and voila it will reboot [the "LED" circle going around, or "boot" appears].
It's not a bad idea to reboot your STB once a month when you have no immediate need for it and it's not recording. These STBs seem to be a lot like computers, if you don't reboot them once in a while, errors seem to crop up...
Sometimes a "warm reboot" (above) is not enough to reset things. Try unplugging the unit for a minute (Cold Reboot) and replugging it in if the warm reboot doesn't work. Always give the unit some time after the reboot to "settle" - say 30 minutes.
----------------------------------------------------------------
What Format is Going to the TV?
The following applies to the SA3250HD - how to tell what the STB is transmitting to the TV in terms of format. (It also applies to the SA8000HDs that have passthrough enabled.)
You can check formats by viewing the small box that displays the STB output. It says 480i, 1080i, 720P, 480P depending on your channel selection, your "wizard setup" and whether you selected "pass-through (Auto-DVI/HDMI)" or "upconvert" in the "Settings" menu, etc.
You enable the small box by switching between channels that have different formats. Each time you switch between formats (720P and 1080i for example) you will see the small box. Only ABC HD, Fox-HD & PBS Detroit are currently 720P.
You can also enable the small box by repeatedly hitting the "#" button, but this enables the stretch mode, so be sure to switch back to "normal" to see the actual format. Hitting "#" on a 480i signal will force an HD output - don't know why - it goes back to 480i if you go back to "normal" (unstretched).
The SA8300HD shows the output format on the front of the PVR.
---------------------------------------------------------------
Advanced Setup Wizard:
The SA and Pace STBs have a setup wizard that you go through. See if you can find the page that guides you through the wizard. If you don't have it, follow the instructions below:
1. Turn the STB off.
2. Press the "Guide" and; "Info" buttons simultaneously (on the STB, not the remote).
3. This takes you to the wizard.
4. If you've got a 4:3 TV the wizard is very simple.
5. If you've got a 16:9 TV, then go into the "advanced" mode (which is still pretty simple)
Once you've finished the wizard which asks you the various formats your TV can display, exit the wizard and turn on the STB.
Whenever doing the setup, or troubleshooting, disconnect ALL video connections except the one you want to use. Use ONLY component video or HDMI/DVI, not both. When troubleshooting also remove S-video connections, etc. If you can't get the HDMI to work (the SA8300HD displays 480i on the front for example) then use the component video cables to perform the setup first, then plug in HDMI/DVI.
Note also that some HDTVs (especially flat panel Samsungs) do NOT accept certain signals like 480i over HDMI. You'll need to delete those in the advanced setup wizard, while using component video cables, or simply use component video cables.
Once you've completed the wizard, press the settings button twice and go to "set picture formats". Pick "passthrough" (auto-DVI/HDMI) as this will allow 480i, 720P (if enabled) and 1080i signals to go to the TV through the component video connection. If you pick "fixed" then you'll only get one format out of the STB.
If you only have one format out of the STB, the PQ is usually inferior and if you have a Plasma or CRT where you want to stretch the SD channels, your TV will not automatically stretch when switching from HD to SD.
When using the DVI/HDMI output the component output is disabled, and the pass-through option is now called Auto-DVI/HDMI in the settings (pressed twice menu) under picture format and is identical to the component passthrough but just with a different name.
Some HDTVs will NOT allow 480i/p when using DVI/HDMI inputs, use the formats that the TV will accept when using DVI/HDMI, or consider the component video connection.
TIPS - You can get "fancy" by deleting several of the formats in the original wizard. If you only enable 480i and 1080i, then 720P will be converted to 1080i and make surfing the HD channels much faster because the TV doesn't need to reformat each time you get to a station of a different format. Also, you can experiment with the "upconvert1" setting as this will send a 480P instead of 480i signal to the TV. You'll have to decide if this is better or worse than the TV doing the upconversion. You should "enable" 480i/P STANDARD, NOT widescreen in the wizard.
General Setup Wizard pdf below:
http://www.scientificatlanta.com/ExplorerClubGuides/getting_started/4003114B.pdf
See page 15 of the above to see what "fixed, passthrough, upconvert1/2" do. (I have now re-enabled all my formats since Upconvert1 will output 480P and 1080i and If I want to enable all formats, I simpy use "passthrough" instead - great for comparisons and for "fast surfing" when using upconvert1.)
Summary, for most HDTVs, enable 480i Standard, 720P and 1080i and "passthrough/auto-DVI/HDMI"
You may wish to visit the SA site as they sometimes have additional information on these STBs.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
One final recommendation. Go through all of the settings on your STB and see what the various options are and whether they are set correctly. Many people never bother to understand what the various settings in the STB do, consequently, they don't get the best performance from the STB, leaving the "default" settings which are often not correct. If you don't know what the setting does, if you press the "info" button, it'll usually tell you. Same goes for the user settings in your TV.
SA 2000/4 Remote Operating Manual Click the link below.
http://www.scientificatlanta.com/ExplorerClubGuides/getting_started/715117.pdf
For those people who have Passport Software instead of SARA, courtesy of TheDreamer:
Press and hold Select and Exit...until the clock changes to the diag message and then press exit again (some people tell you to tune to the diagnostic channel instead, but then you have know what the channel is first, which varies depending on area and can change if they put a real channel in the spot...which happened when they added more spanish programming to the 800 range...bumping it from 811 to 841.)
http://www.scientificatlanta.com/ExplorerClubGuides/getting_started/4003114B.pdf (General Setup Guide)
One final recommendation. Go through all of the settings on your STB and see what the various options are and whether they are set correctly. Many people never bother to understand what the various settings in the STB do, consequently, they don't get the best performance from the STB, leaving the "default" settings which are often not correct. If you don't know what the setting does, if you press the "info" button, it'll usually tell you. Same goes for the user settings in your TV.
For more tips on the SA8X00HD - see the following link.
http://www.hdtvoice.com/voice/showthread.php?t=13605
Hint - The "#" button to the right of the zero invokes the various zoom modes. If you've "cropped" any of your screen, make sure you didn't hit this button by mistake. Hit it repeatedly to get back to "normal".
Also, see the SA eClub. http://www.scientificatlanta.com/explorerclub/default.asp
Last Resort
If for some reason you can't get the STB to do what you want and you've rebooted it by unplugging it, etc. This is a "last resort" item. You can reformat the HDD.
The Explorer 8X00 has a fairly simple procedure to erase the drive (start clean). Note that this process will erase all scheduled programming and will cause the unit to reload all programming data from your cable provider. On the plus side, it will repair any fragmenting problems.
"Press and hold PAUSE until Mail led is lit. Press PAGE down or (-),
and then press LIST three times. Turn box off. When turned-on,
formatting will begin."
Signal Strength
If you have a broadband connection on your computer (via cable). The following link should provide you with a general indication of the signal strength at your house.
This is good for people who don't have a STB or whose STB (the SA8300HD) provides erroneous readings.
http://192.168.100.1/signal.html
The site is designed for Motorola, so if you have a different modem, it may not work.
Signal strength above -10dB is adequate for digital channels and a S/N ratio of 35 is good. Any splitters "downstream" of where you have your cable modem connected would, of course, lower the signal strength.
For those with Pace STBs, much of the above applies. Some does not. To get into the diagnostics, see the following. This will allow you to check signal strength, etc.
Access to the Signal strength and other internal parameters is achieved by pressing the center button of the 5 button clustor on the STB (not remote) and wait for the envelope logo to light up on the small screen, then press the GUIDE button on the STB. Page +/Page - on the remote allows the different data pages to be viewed. The EXIT button on the remote is pressed when all is done. Videotron has put SA firmware on the Pace STBs, so the instructions in the SA portion of this post may now be applicable.
Remote Control Codes and Manuals
http://www.urcsupport.com/
Diagnostics Explanations (Models may differ)
http://www.dslreports.com/faq/sciatl/3.1%20Using%20diagnostic%20screens
Please PM me if you have any comments or suggestions.
