My apologies if this information can already be found at this site, but I was unable to locate it with some simple searches.

I currently do timeshifting with a non-HDD 4250HD set-top box in conjunction with a standalone HDD-based DVD recorder. From the program guide of the 4250HD, I use the "set a VCR timer" function to automatically change to the desired channel at the correct time; the DVD recorder is manually configured to record from the S-video output of the set-top box at the same time. (The DVD recorder has no IR blaster and cannot control the cable box itself.) Since I'm primarily interested in recurring programs, I normally set up the timers in both the set-top box and DVD recorder to repeat weekly. This works reasonably well, although, of course, the recordings are only in standard definition. The main problem is that the 4250HD only supports eight recording timers, which is too few for my needs.

I expect I will eventually get an 8300HD PVR, in order to record true high-definition programming, but I was curious how many separate recording schedules it supports.

Thanks.

Tony

The number of scheduled recordings on the SA8300HD is essentially unlimited. However, there is only so much space on the HDD. I seem to recall a thread somewhere about someone running into some limit, but it was a lot of recordings and I can't even remember whether that was on Motorola or SA or even satellite equipment.

As for "VCR timers" (if you wish to set any of those up for recording directly to the DVD Recorder) instead of scheduled recordings for the PVR, there are also 8, just like in the STB.

Be aware that there are some issues that may arise:

http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=17213

The 8300HD PVR has two tuners, so it can record two different channels simultaneously; I don't think it has any other limitations, with respect to programmed recordings...or I have never encountered a limit...and 57 wins again!

I'm primarily interested in timeshifting and would rarely need to archive recordings to DVD, so I probably wouldn't use the VCR timers anyway.

Is there any good documentation available online which outlines the functionality of the Rogers PVR boxes?

Thanks for the information.

Tony

Yes, download the various Cisco Explorer 8300HD PVR User Guides (pdf) at:
http://www.cisco.com/web/consumer/support/settop_8300hddvr.html.
Also see:
http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=17749 Tips & Tricks for SA8300HD
http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=17719 FAQ - Tips For SA STBs (also Pace)

>>>The 8300HD PVR has two tuners, so it can record two different channels simultaneously;<<<

It is also worth noting that you can watch a pre-recorded show at the same time as two other things are recording.

>>> I don't think it has any other limitations, with respect to programmed recordings.<<<

I often record 8-10 things on busy evenings (and line up recordings for subsequent nights). There are probably 20-30 things set to record over the course of the next week on my box. On busy auto-racing weekends, it can be recording two channels pretty much the entire weekend (especially when things like 24 hours of Le Mans are on).

Of course, there is the practical limit of storage space, but with my 500G expansion drive I run out of room at about 100 hours of HD.