Official SA 8300HD DVR Users Thread

[Mark Strube]

Well, I can only tell you from personal experience. I too have been experiencing more errors than normal from 506 (although in the past few days those have gone away again). But I do remember many instances when recordings from 504 were terrible, and I haven't had that problem since I got the 8300HD (which I'd recommend everyone switch to even if they're not having issues).

[TPK]

I'm sorry if these links have been posted before (I imagine that they would have been posted before, but I tried to search for some keywords and I could not find them)...

Here are a couple articles I found interesting:

http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/050107/sff046_1.html

and

http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/050105/sfw017_1.html

... Does this mean that someday soon I may be able to expand the recording capacity of my PVR box myself, or is this all smoke?

[oz]

Now that I've waited a couple of weeks, are there plenty of SA 8300HD DVR's available if I go in to Mayfair to get one?

[TPK]

I went yesterday to Mayfair and got an 8300 DVR no problems.....

[picopir8]

I went last weekend and did something moronic.  I took in my remote control.  It was a brand new remote.  When they gave me a new box, they gave me a new remote which I immediately put in my pocket w/o checking out.  Once I got home I noticed that it was pretty beat up.  It works, but looks and feels lousy.  So if you go and you like your existing remote, keep it at home.

[P-FUNK]

I exchanged my 8000 for the 8300 2 days ago and couldn't be happier!!
I am kinda a newb at this hd equipment and was wondering if the hdmi cable is worth getting and if the picture quality is noticeable?i have a toshiba 52hmx94 DLP
tv which supports the hdmi cable.

[Mark Strube]

I'd only go with HDMI if you'd like to free up a component port, or if for some reason you're unhappy with the current picture quality. It's technically better quality since an HDMI cable is all-digital compared to a component which is analog, but the majority of people don't notice the difference. I'd say might as well get it now, as more and more products become HD compatible, those component ports are gonna get used up.  

[Paul S.]

I'd only go with HDMI if you'd like to free up a component port, or if for some reason you're unhappy with the current picture quality. It's technically better quality since an HDMI cable is all-digital compared to a component which is analog, but the majority of people don't notice the difference. I'd say might as well get it now, as more and more products become HD compatible, those component ports are gonna get used up.  

I second that.

[zoothorn]

I picked up the 8300 a few weeks ago and promptly ordered an HDMI>DVI-D cable off ebay. When I hook it up I get a message screen up from the box saying my TV doesn't support HDCP and to please hook it up with the component cables.

Anyone else seeing anything like this? The TV is Sony Wega 32XBR800 that's about 2 years old. Has the DVI input obviously. Is there really something lacking on the TV that this isn't going to work or is this somehow a fault in the SA box? The cable??

Thanks for any replies.

Zoot.

[Mark Strube]

I'm using the same type of cable with a Sony model that's about 1 year old, with no issues. Once in awhile I get that same message but all I do is turn my box off and back on and the problem is solved. Chances are your television just doesn't support HDCP.

[Paul S.]

Yeah, I get that too every now and then.

[gparris]

Nice unit...not as ugly as you might think...faster channel changing, faster response, cool spelling feature I missed when I longer had Tivo w/D*

The TWC guy came over and found my problem with 504 and possibly 506 and had one on his truck and swapped it out for the defective 8000HD I had.
The result is 506 still had some problems watching Malcolm Sunday night but the rest is good...when "24" comes on tonight and it works fine is when I will swap out any other 8000HD boxes as time permits...the cable guy was told I only had one box when my account clearly stated otherwise...
After he left, my set box was in 4:3 TV and not 16:9 so the stretch feature worked sort of funny...the cable guy, though trying to be helpful, forgot about this setting so if you get this box, be sure to remember this...otherwise good service.  

[FiberOptic]

So I got my 8300 and just hooked it with my new HDMI cable.  The picture and sound is definitely better than with the component.  The only problem is once I am in the HD channels with the HDMI source, I can not go to the regular cable channels with out changing my tv source.  the folks at TWC that I talked to said to keep the component hooked as well.  A little hassle for a better picture and sound quality

[Mark Strube]

I don't understand... it should be outputting every channel thru the HDMI. Could you be a little more specific with your exact problem?

[FiberOptic]

For some reason all channels between 2 and 311 do not go through HDMI, only the premium and the HD channels.  The non premium I still need to use the component jacks.   The TWC rep said the box does not have the capability to switch between HD and SD