Official SA 8300HD DVR Users Thread

[MoreTorque99]

It has two 6-pin firewire ports on the back.

The box and remote appear to be brand new.

[Mark Strube]

A few questions:

Wow and you didn't specifically ask for one with firewire? I guess the new ones must now have these ports?

Do you think they'd be annoyed if I went in and asked for a new in-the-box HD-DVR exchange?

Are the ports active and which channels are unprotected? (Any SD digital besides the PPV previews? Any HD channels you can't get OTA?)

[tekdredger]

Firewire ports are NOT enabled.  Even though the hardware is there it is not enabled by the Pioneer Passport Echo software.  Hopefully this will be remedied in a future firmware upgrade sooner rather than later (but I'm not holding my breath).  If you find some notes in the various internet forums about people using the firewire ports they are most likely using Scientific Atlanta's own SARA firmware, not the Passport like we have here in Milwaukee.

Having the hardware ports in place is more of a random luck of the draw, it's not just the newer boxes that have them.  Case in point;  I got a 4300HD about 6 weeks ago that had the ports installed but I returned it for an issue I won't discuss here.  The replacement box was also brand new in a box with a later manufacturing date and it does not have the ports.  But like I said, it doesn't matter since they don't work anyway.

Personally, I'd rather see the SATA port be enabled.

[faulkner]

Two issues with my HD8300 DVR.  

1: Pressing the GUIDE and INFO buttons on the DVR at the same time does not activate an initial setup screen to tell the DVR that my Mits HD TV set is 4x3 format.  The DVR defaults to 16x9 format, and then I have to choose a grey bar, stretch or zoom mode for 4x3 content.  What am I doing wrong?

2: My other HD set is a Westinghouse LCD 16x9 Monitor, but TV volume is unsupported by the DVR remote.  Does anyone know of a 3rd party programmable remote that works well with the 8300 (LIST, GUIDE, A, B, C, DVR keys, etc...)?

[kevbeck122]

1: The initial setup is meant for Scientific Atlanta's own box software.  The Pioneer Passport software that is on TWC's boxes doesn't have the inital setup.  You have to press menu, then the yellow triangle to set up the aspect ratio and other box options.

2: The remote can be programmed to use TV volume rather than the boxes.  I don't remember how since I don't use their remote but I'm sure others know how.

[MoreTorque99]

Two issues with my HD8300 DVR.  

1: Pressing the GUIDE and INFO buttons on the DVR at the same time does not activate an initial setup screen to tell the DVR that my Mits HD TV set is 4x3 format.  The DVR defaults to 16x9 format, and then I have to choose a grey bar, stretch or zoom mode for 4x3 content.  What am I doing wrong?

2: My other HD set is a Westinghouse LCD 16x9 Monitor, but TV volume is unsupported by the DVR remote.  Does anyone know of a 3rd party programmable remote that works well with the 8300 (LIST, GUIDE, A, B, C, DVR keys, etc...)?

For the screen format, you should be able to pick that from the "advanced settings" menu.  (press settings and then "a" for more settings)

My Harmony 880 works suprisingly well with my 8300HD.  Every function is perfect.

[Paul S.]

My Harmony 880 works suprisingly well with my 8300HD.  Every function is perfect.

Mine kinda does. I wish it was better. Do you have it set as 'digital set top' or 'watch pvr'?

[Mark Strube]

New REALLY ANNOYING issue...

This is more of an issue with the guide programming than the DVR itself but still...

For quite a while now, my box hasn't been getting Commander In Chief... I figured it was a hiatus or something... until I saw them talking about a new episode on Best Week Ever. What the heck?

I checked my series recording... everything was correct... except... it was spelled "Commander in Chief" whereas new episodes were spelled "Commander In Chief"

See the difference? Something as simple as this will screw up your series recordings... RIDICULOUS. The DVR series recordings are case-sensitive. Great job. :bang:

Makes me wonder what other series I'm missing...

[Paul S.]

New REALLY ANNOYING issue...

This is more of an issue with the guide programming than the DVR itself but still...

For quite a while now, my box hasn't been getting Commander In Chief... I figured it was a hiatus or something... until I saw them talking about a new episode on Best Week Ever. What the heck?

I checked my series recording... everything was correct... except... it was spelled "Commander in Chief" whereas new episodes were spelled "Commander In Chief"

See the difference? Something as simple as this will screw up your series recordings... RIDICULOUS. The DVR series recordings are case-sensitive. Great job. :bang:

Makes me wonder what other series I'm missing...

I didn;'t even know there was a way to change something like thet.

[Mark Strube]

I didn't change anything. Whoever provides the listings changed the "in" to "In" so it screwed up the series recording, since the stupid DVR is case-sensitive, apparently. So I had to delete the old series recording and add the new one.

[Paul S.]

I didn't change anything. Whoever provides the listings changed the "in" to "In" so it screwed up the series recording, since the stupid DVR is case-sensitive, apparently. So I had to delete the old series recording and add the new one.

Ohhh. That bites!

[kevbeck122]

I just noticed we have the audio menu now (DD, HDMI and 2 channel).  I found out because since yesterday I have only been getting a PLII signal coming through my receiver.  I checked the menu and sure enough, there's a digital audio out option now.

[Mark Strube]

That's strange... is it in the settings? Nothing like that on mine.

[kevbeck122]

It's right under the Audio Level option in the menu on mine... not the quick settings but the full menu.

[Mark Strube]

Yeah it's not on mine... Clock Settins is under Audio Level still. Strange. :confused: