Any further Time-Warner "Navigator" software news?

[Jack 1000]

Does anyone know how long the Navigator download is supposed to last? I have heard between 1-2 hours sometime between 2-4am on the day of transfer?

Jack

[gparris]

Jack 1000:
You mean for the original, initial transfering over of TWC Wisconsin's Crapagator programming, thereby dumping out the Aptiv Passport (you know, the programming that works good)?:confused:

FYI: I tried searching for the word "Navigator" at this TWC location today and found it missing from their site: They don't have Navigator, yet this TWC location offers many HD channels we do NOT get:

http://www.timewarnercable.com/SouthCarolina/products/HDTVAvailableChannels.html

I count TEN HD channels that TWC Wisconsin does NOT have, that this TWC location has WITHOUT Navigator as the "solution":

-So next time some story-teller from TWC Wisconsin tells you otherwise ("its a requirement"), don't believe them!

[Jack 1000]

Some very interesting information for you guys at the AVS Navigator forum:  (You should all bookmark this forum page.)

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=723830&pp=30&highlight=journal&page=96

It suggests if you look at the recent posts within, that many people who have Sara with the new HDC boxes, that these subs are reporting the same problems that have been discussed with Navigator.  It could be that the issues that are causing the problems may not so much be Navigator itself, but the integrated C-boxes with the cable cards in them.  I submitted that some cable systems may be better at integrating the new C boxes than others.  The same is true with Navigator's performance, which appears to fluctuate from division to division.  BUT there are some questions/issues to consider:

1.) Is the fluctuation in Navigator's performance due to the head end of a designated cable system not being compliant to receive SDV technology?  Has anyone had problems with a Sara or Passport IPG on a C-model box?  If so, the problem may be more C-box related than software related, whereas Navigator may not be the culprit that it is made out to be.

2.) I encourage everyone to investigate and question all issues relating to a cable systems' functionality.  What we really need for comparison analysis is to see how well (or not well) Passport functions on an integrated (C-Card) box.  The same is true for the Sara systems.  (Sara as I understand it is Scientific Atlanta's integrated IPG.)  I understand about that about 60% of TWC nationwide uses Sara, which already supports SDV capability.  (So in theory, TWC would not have to upgrade the Sara IPG's to Navigator.)  The main issue with Passport, is that without paying outside vendors for software updates, it does not support SDV capability.  However, Navigator and Sara are currently SDV compliant.

3.) The big test is going to be the level of success of the DVR/Non DVR legacy box Navigator rollouts.  We haven't heard any Lincoln Nebraska horror stories for awhile, but do not know why.  FYI, this was the first city to get Navigator last fall with DEPLORABLE HORRIFYING RESULTS.  Have they worked out the bugs in this area, or have people just "given up?"

What do you all think?

Jack

[kevbeck122]

I don't understand why they say Passport is not compatible with SDV when you can get any SDV channel on a Passport box.  If Passport isn't compatible, why not switch to SARA?  It's made by SA, and most of our boxes are SA... therefore it should rid us of all of the issues we're having.

[LoadStar]

I don't understand why they say Passport is not compatible with SDV when you can get any SDV channel on a Passport box.  If Passport isn't compatible, why not switch to SARA?  It's made by SA, and most of our boxes are SA... therefore it should rid us of all of the issues we're having.

Hah. Talk to anyone who has had to deal with SARA. Navigator is actually an UPGRADE from that aborted piece of trash. It's horrible, no two ways about it. Passport remains the best OS available for the Scientific Atlanta and Pioneer set-top terminals.

[gparris]

Aptiv Passport is why I left Directv for TWC service-only as the interface with the combination HD box and DVR at the initial lease price was wonderful.
Now with the lack of HD channel additions, ever higher lease pricing and Navigator coming in, TWC cableTV service is becoming a nightmare once again.:mad:

[Jack 1000]

We are coming up on December 31, which was the completion date that a user in Kenosha received for the roll out to his DVR.  No notices yet for me or anything.  Answers on Demand is leaving on January 30th, which is Passport related.  Note that some other areas with Navigator have a help screen on Channel 1.  Channel 1 here is a combination of AOD help videos and local based community programing, (such as TWC Hang Tough ("say no to drugs") campaign.  The video information on that channel is very very old as is some of the locally based videos.  I wonder if they plan to move Navigator help to that channel and just not call it Answers on Demand?

I know all of you hate being in the dark about this stuff!  I am making progress with watching my DVR recordings and getting prepared for when "it" happens.  Have any of you guys heard anything new?  Make sure that you watch all your saved recordings!  Have you noticed any other unusual box behavior such as frequent reboots that may suggest, Navigator could be here at any time?

Jack

[gparris]

Many times we get no really big notification about anything rolling out on a specific date from TWC locally unless you read about it in the JS from Tim C.
Sometimes you get information from the website or it just happens on your TV screen like the smalller icons for Caller ID.
It sort of freaks me out everytime I turn on my HDTV set:
-I don't know if my microdisplay bulb is about to pop in the set
-Or TWC has done something (good or bad).

[Jack 1000]

Many times we get no really big notification about anything rolling out on a specific date from TWC locally unless you read about it in the JS from Tim C.
Sometimes you get information from the website or it just happens on your TV screen like the smaller icons for Caller ID.
It sort of freaks me out every time I turn on my HDTV set:
-I don't know if my microdisplay bulb is about to pop in the set
-Or TWC has done something (good or bad).

Thanks GP,

Yea, did anyone contact TWC about the smaller icons in the TV Caller ID?  I can't even read incoming calls anymore and have to go to channel 199 to see who called.  I hope that if this is related to Navigator, that when Navigator's Caller UD comes on TV that they put it back to the size it used to be.

Jack

[gparris]

Jack 1000:
No, haven't had the chance since TWC advertised it so long ago and at that time it wasn't even available yet.
Then when Caller ID came about, it wasn't even mentioned anywhere, including bills or website:
It isn't in my mind much, anymore...I DO like my brother's Caller ID on his Directv system, however (with his TWC Digital Phone).

Recently, I was calling about deleting services (cableTV-wise) to lower my bill and that was fun enough since that alone took talking to three people and the call lasted almost an hour!:eek:

[Kenoman]

Well here it is Jan 2 and if you remember my post of an email I received from TWC that Navigator would be up and running in Kenosha by Dec. 31. NOT!
I guess it just goes to show you that TWC can't be trusted to give it's customers accurate information.
I do know that Navigator is on all the SA8300HDC boxes that they are currently giving out here in Kenosha.
I also noticed that my SA8300HD seems to be re-booting more frequently lately. Don't know if that means anything but it does erase all caller id calls on channel 199.

[Jack 1000]

Well here it is Jan 2 and if you remember my post of an email I received from TWC that Navigator would be up and running in Kenosha by Dec. 31. NOT!
I guess it just goes to show you that TWC can't be trusted to give it's customers accurate information.
I do know that Navigator is on all the SA8300HDC boxes that they are currently giving out here in Kenosha.
I also noticed that my SA8300HD seems to be re-booting more frequently lately. Don't know if that means anything but it does erase all caller id calls on channel 199.

Hi Kenoman,

Happy New Year!!  Be careful what you wish for with Navigator, you may get it! LOL!  My box generally likes to reboot about 4-6am sometime during that time.  (But not everyday) I did have a fast reboot around 9pm a few days ago but nothing unique or unusual.  The only thing that I don't like is the shrunken Caller ID on TV.  I have to stand close to the screen to read it, or go to Channel 199 to see who called!  My experience is that when the box reboots, whether it does it itself, or you do it, the Caller's List on channel 199 gets erased each time.

When Navigator comes, and if the Caller ID on TV is still small like it is now, I will send a feedback form to ask TWC to put it back to its original size or offer a prompt on Channel 199 to change the size.  (I don't know if this has to do with the Navigator change-over, or if people thought it was too big!)  Now, you need a microscope to see it!

Jack

[gparris]

Yeah, be very careful of what you wish for.
Friends of mine had Passport for some time with their DVR, but now that they are getting a HDTV (with my assistance and setup), they will have to swap it out for the HD DVR and it will have Navigator in it by default...ouch!

[kevbeck122]

Mine froze again today... 12 minutes to reboot.  I'm thinking it may be defective, but if not, that is very unacceptable.

As far as the download time - when I first got my box, there was a letter inside that said I was supposed to hook the box up and let it sit for up to 30 minutes so that it could download something.  I'm not sure if that meant the entire Navigator OS or what, but it did take 10-20 minutes to complete whatever it was doing.

[gparris]

kevbeck122:
Are all of the standard HD boxes are now using Navigator?
Or is it just the boxes with the "C" at the end, like yours has?
In any event:
-Navigator is not fixed as to boot up time and you are one of the paying "guinea pigs" of TWC Wisconsin...great.:bang: