Official SA 8000HD DVR Users Thread

[gb4fan92]

Well today I got my HD Channels back (INHD & HDNET) but lost all the free pay channels I was getting (HBO, Showtime,ect). I did manage to tape 2 movies last nite. Looks good so far but I haven't watch them both yet.

ADVICE!!  When you first get your DVR record as many pay channel movies as you can. They will be free for one day only!!

[Paul S.]

I find the lack of DVI very sucky. Is there a componant to DVI cable in existence?

[louisd13]

Does anybody know how to switch between SD and HD modes on the 8000HD.  I tried what the manual said (boot up and hit info and guide when time shows on box, but my HD DVR always seems to default to SD instead of HD.

[djenders]

:bang:

Anyone have problems with color with the 8000 unit? My DVDs look fine as does standard cable plugged directly into my Mitsu. I tried recalibration but everything seems pink, yellows are tan/pink, and it looks like crap!

Could it be the unit? Anyone else have problems? Also why do the analog channels look like such crap!

Dennis

[gb4fan92]

Originally posted by djenders
:bang:

Anyone have problems with color with the 8000 unit?  Also why do the analog channels look like such crap!

 

I changed my output to 1080i only and my color and analog channels improved dramatically.

[louisd13]

My box always defaults to sd outputs when I boot up the box (front says "sd" when it starts up on the front of the box) it tries to output HD for a second (the passport loading screen looks fine for a second, then it switches to sd and the picture goes black and white.  It seems to be trying hd and then it just jumps to sd and I cant get into the screen to change it back to hd.  HELP!!!  anybody have any clues as to why my box defaults to sd?  Of course after an hour with tech support I am just an hour older and have no answers!!   If anybody has ANY suggestions I would be eternally gratefull!

[gparris]

Your bad news in my good news in the fact it JUST ISN'T ME!!!

Sorry, but my box says Sd then goes black and white, just like  yours...I wish TWC would have got the boxes held for the Kenosha area and THEN released them AFTER the bugs came out in our area.

This totally SUCKS!!!:mad:

I will let everyone know what happens if and when they fix it.

Nice that only Kenosha is affected...maybe TWC can figure out what it gave us in HD DVR boxes or if they are doing something different in Kenosha as the rest of the area seems to be doing fine...

The button to do the setting do NOT work, either!!!:bang:

TWC: are you just giving us Kenoshans the bad boxes?
Did Kenosha offend you or something?

Stay er, "tuned" (it will be in black and white, though!)

[Snard]

(Edit on 8/14: If you are reading this thread in order, and are having this problem, skip down to RS922's post for a solution

Originally posted by gparris

Nice that only Kenosha is affected...maybe TWC can figure out what it gave us in HD DVR boxes or if they are doing something different in Kenosha as the rest of the area seems to be doing fine...

The button to do the setting do NOT work, either!!!:bang:

TWC: are you just giving us Kenoshans the bad boxes?
Did Kenosha offend you or something?

Stay er, "tuned" (it will be in black and white, though!) [/B]

It's not just Kenosha. I got a box tonight at the Mayfair kiosk, and it's doing the exact same thing that the rest of you are reporting (momentary bootup in HD, then switches to pinkish b&w mode, front panel button sequence doesn't work, etc.)

I also was on the phone with TWC support for about an hour, and verified and re-verified everything (are the cables plugged in right, is the time being displayed on your box, etc.) Several reboots later, with the same results, and they scheduled a visit for NEXT TUESDAY.

Never mind that my wife is royally pissed about possibly missing the Olympic opening ceremonies in HD tomorrow night. (and after I did the big sell job on the extra $8/mo to get the HD DVR). I'm torn between just exchanging this back for a Pioneer box that I know works, vs. swapping for another SA 8000HD (since I don't want to go the entire weekend without HD)

If anyone out there knows of the magic fix for this, please post here, or send a pointer. I can't believe that all of us got defective boxes. Is there something that makes this box incompatible with our TV's? See the Toshiba set model in my signature for more info on my setup.

[4runnergusto]

Just so you know, don't be upset when you don't see the opening in HD. I believe all the HD content of the olympics is delayed by 24 hours, and frankly, I have this strange feeling that TWC will just simulcast everying from the analog feed. I do hope I am wrong, but by looking at the digital cable guide, that is how it would appear. Again, I do hope I am wrong...

Cheers,
Mark

[4runnergusto]

I also meant to make a comment regarding SD. I switched my output so that everything is 1080i, and I must say that the analog channels look much better than they did on my old pioneer box. Still grainy, but not nearly as bad. The only real problem I have had is that I was trying out the PIP, had a HD picture on the main, and analog as the PIP, and my TV didn't like it, nor did the DVR. I actually had to reboot the DVR, because it was hiccuping so bad. But it has been fine since. My other problem is that I wish it had 3 or 4 tuners, there is so much stuff on this weekend that I would like to record, I had to make choices. What a problem, eh?

cheers,
Mark

[gparris]

Originally posted by Snard
It's not just Kenosha. I got a box tonight at the Mayfair kiosk, and it's doing the exact same thing that the rest of you are reporting (momentary bootup in HD, then switches to pinkish b&w mode, front panel button sequence doesn't work, etc.)

I also was on the phone with TWC support for about an hour, and verified and re-verified everything (are the cables plugged in right, is the time being displayed on your box, etc.) Several reboots later, with the same results, and they scheduled a visit for NEXT TUESDAY.

Never mind that my wife is royally pissed about possibly missing the Olympic opening ceremonies in HD tomorrow night. (and after I did the big sell job on the extra $8/mo to get the HD DVR). I'm torn between just exchanging this back for a Pioneer box that I know works, vs. swapping for another SA 8000HD (since I don't want to go the entire weekend without HD)

If anyone out there knows of the magic fix for this, please post here, or send a pointer. I can't believe that all of us got defective boxes. Is there something that makes this box incompatible with our TV's? See the Toshiba set model in my signature for more info on my setup.

Welcome to wonderful of TWC junk boxes!

One interesting tidbit of comments is that as I was being supported by M.H. of TWC Support we spoke about the delay and all the testing.  
She indicated that they had tested this in Kenosha and it worked.   Yeah, right!
She had never heard of the problem before, but maybe that would explain why the call volume shot through the roof............
Looks like they did minimal testing, or they would have seen this problem.   As I see others around SE Wisconsin having the same problem, it amazes me that they didn't have this occur in the test environment.    

They need to look no further than the fact that the software on the unit was modified by TWC because when you do the  pressing the Guide and Info buttons as described in the manual by Scientific Atlanta, it didn't work any longer.  
 
TWC: When you mess with the firmware/software and you didn't write it in the first place, you are are going to screw things up.:mad:

Snard: They don't know what to do or it would have been fixed already...maybe by Tuesday (like we were supposed to have them by "first quarter"). Get a Pioneer box and be done with it, for now...I am, unless my "fix" actually occurs next week, too!:rolleyes:

[borghe]

in case you guys were wondering how much room some of the local HD programming really takes up, check out this link on the front page. It'll give you a good idea how much HD you can expect to record from the local HD channels. Sorry, I should have titled the subject a little better, but it was very late last night, err.. I mean this morning.. :p

[summerfun]

Originally posted by 4runnergusto
Just so you know, don't be upset when you don't see the opening in HD. I believe all the HD content of the olympics is delayed by 24 hours, and frankly, I have this strange feeling that TWC will just simulcast everying from the analog feed. I do hope I am wrong, but by looking at the digital cable guide, that is how it would appear. Again, I do hope I am wrong...

Cheers,
Mark

There is already another forum talking about this, but since you brought it up here, I will answer you here.

NBC is broadcasting the opening ceremonies with a 1 hour delay on HD. they will repeat it on the HD channel all night. The NBC HD programming is going to be a different program than the analog program. They are going to have 8 hours of programming and run it in a loop to have HD Olympics 24 hours a day.

You can go to http://www.nbcolympics.com to see the schedule.

TMJ 4 is going to send that loop out on their HD channel. TWC has it messed up on their menu guide. I have talked to the manager of TMJ 4 and he is working on getting that fixed with TWC.

[RS922]

As some have noticed, the 8000 HD has both HD and SD modes.  Unfortunately, some boxes went out to customers in SD mode.  To change back to HD mode, while settop powered on, press "channel up" button and hold for moment, then press "volume -" .  After pressing "volume -" release both buttons.
This will toggle the mode back and forth.  

When in SD mode, the Y/V connector on the back becomes a composite video out, allowing the user to record to a VCR or DVD recorder.  The rf out is also active while on this mode.  The box will only work in one mode at a time.

I have lurked on the forum for a while and have learned much from everyone.   I have been testing the HD with TW for a while and look forward to reading the comments and feedback from others.

[borghe]

great info!!

guess I can send out a couple people to get one of these to hook up to their analog TVs.