I just heard the announcement today that TWC (Minneapolis area) now offer HD-DVR. I just got off the phone with them and they will call me tomorrow to put the order in the system since they weren't prepared for the launch today, I guess. They say I can have it installed on Thursday or Friday.
They say it can record 45 hours of HD content. I asked about 1394 and DVI, ut the girl was unsure. I guess I'll find out in a couple days. The rent for the box is the same as the HD3100, and there is a $9.95/month charge for the DVR service. I don't know how I'll even wait a couple days for this thing!
Way to go, Time Warner!
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I spoke to a TWC New York City rep today. He says they are looking into an HD DVR with SA and Pioneer. He says it will not be available in nyc until midyear or possibly the end of the year. I don't know what that means in real time.
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To Micah
Do you have any problem with your TWC? I have been through 2 HD boxes, and TWC has run a new line to my house. They say the signal strength is OK, but I get constant lock ups, and pixel dancing.
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Keith, I have had the occasional dropout but nothing that I believe to be any more then what anyone else has experienced. I would think the majority of problems lie with the networks instead of the cable company. At least that's what TWC would probably tell you. I even have a 3-way splitter hooked up from the wall, so perhaps the occasional dropout could be attributed to that rather than the networks.
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I know this might sound strange, but have TWC check to make sure the signal is not too strong. It usually is not a problem for analog, but too strong a signal will cause problems with the digital HD picture.
Mark
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Here is an email I just got from TWC in Charlotte:
Hi Hugh...Minneapolis is actually our test division. We're pushing to be able to deploy very quickly once test period is completed.
We have your name on a list to call when we can put them out for our customers.
Thanks for the heads-up information.
S
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I'm inclined to think it is weak signal. When I got the first box, (pioneer 3100?) it wouldn't work with I control, and MPT (Milwaukee Public TV) high def wouldn't even come in. They came in with the new wire, and they both started to work. I had the wire split in the basement to the rest of the house, and then again behind the tv for the VCR. I changed it to 1 split, with a high bandwith splitter. As close to a home run as I can get. It helped a little more. I also went and got a new box demanding the newest and got a 3110? I'm not home so not sure of the numbers, no difference. The most annoying thing, is that if I hit the guide button while on a high def station, it will lock up every time.
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Mark Alford (Login markalford) Magazine Subscribers
to Keith
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January 15 2004, 1:19 PM
It's easy enough to diagnose. The important thing is to make sure that the tech that comes to your house is trained on HD service. There is a service menu on the 3100 box that gives a real time reading of signal strength. As long as the reading falls within a certain range you should have no problems. The splitter could be worth checking into. I was using an Acoustic Research high bandwidth splitter that proved to be part of my problem.
For what it's worth, once they get you tweaked properly you should have no problems. It took a few visits but I have not had any issues regarding signal quality for well over a year now.
Mark
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Thanks Mark.
I have tried 3 high bandwith splitters so far a Monster, an RCA, and a Radio Shack. No difference. Sounds like it's time to get TWC back in here.
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It is the Explorer 8000HD. It has a DVI output and the manual also diagrams the two firewire ports, although the 1394 was left off my model. The manual indicates that both the DVI and 1394 connectors are reserved for future use and may not be available on all 8000 models. At least I got a DVI output!
Also, I now have the ability to stretch SDTV while using the component output. I couldn't get exact numbers from the cable guy, but when I asked if there were around 300GB on the hard drive, he said that sounds about right. It should be enough for 40-50 hours of HD timeshifting.
Aside from the missing 1394 ports, this is a quality unit that couldn't have come at a better time...SUPERBOWL!!
Me thinks me likes living in TWC's testing area!
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I dunno. I did read on a SA Explorer website that while the 8000 comes with 80GB, the 8000HD size would vary. I call up TWC and nobody really knows the specifications. All I know is I was told from two different people that it can record between 40-50 HD hours.
I will know in probably a couple weeks as I start to record as much interesting HD material as I can watch.
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I'll believe that when I see it...the only way I know to date to record high def movies is to have an upgrade done to an older toshiba or hughes STB through this company> www.169time.com
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What you're thinking about is SOC (selectable output control). Such control can only be utilized through DVI. However, the cable companies agreed not to use SOC on broadcast or premium network channels. It could apply towards concerts, events etc, but I have not heard of any such action taken thus far.
BTW, I did record part of arachnophobia on HBO earlier today, so feel free to start believing...
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Sorry, no offense, but I still don't believe...The reason for dvi is for copyright protection, and thats why IEEE-1394 ports are not being used on any directv or dish network STB's...I find it hard to believe that cable companies would ignore copyright protection and allow for recording movies off their networks...(look, I hope I'm wrong...but don't think I am)
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chuckken: DirecTV and Dish will allow PVRs with built-in hard drives to record anything because there is no obvious way to dismount and copy the hard drive, making pirating impossible (except for us engineers, and engineers usually have better things to do).
The FCC is requiring DirecTV and Dish to include a 1394 connector starting this year, although the exact characteristics of that port have not been made clear.
This message has been edited by KQ6QV on Jan 15, 2004 8:16 PM
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My new Sa8000hd has DVI , but does not have firewire. It has a 160GB hard drive and dual HD tuners. It can record two HD shows while you watch a recorded show. It is a cable box used by Time Warner Cable. http://www.sciatl.com/consumers/Exp8000HD.htm
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Yes, there is component and RGB outputs. I believe all STBs are required to provide analog outputs for several more years to come due to the early HDTV adopters that don't have any digital inputs on their sets.
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The manual (at least the part I looked at) only mentions that it will record up to 80 hours of SD programming, but I did not see the HD figure. What is the conversion factor?
Mark
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I got a response from Charlotte that said they do not know the "official" time they will have this box, but we should expect it sometime this summer. That's only about 4 or so months away I guess!
Hey Mark (or anyone I guess, esp. in NC)-
Do you have any problems with your Discovery HD channel? I find that it "pulsates", meaning I see the screen get very slightly darker in regular 1 sec intervals until the next image is displayed. It's hard to see until the screen displays a still image that has solid colors (like an sky shot or something). Just checking... I've changed cables, used DVI, Component, and S-Vid and they all show the same thing. Even tried isolating the power going to the TV to no avail.
Thanks-
John
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Mark Alford (Login markalford) Magazine Subscribers
to John
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January 20 2004, 7:57 PM
That's the same thing they told me last week while I was signing up for HDNet.
As far as the Discvery Channel goes, I have not watched it much during the last two weeks. I'll give it a look and see if I have the same problem.
Mark
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