As my wife has discovered to her displeasure the answer is that after you have saved as many as the save option indicates it no longer records that program until you change the save number upwards or delete a recording(s).

I am going to apologize in advance for this question. I have plowed through about half of the posts on this forum. I must say that I appreciate everything that all of the 6208 owners identified before Shaw did their Firmware upgrade. It made it very easy for those of us who came on the scene later.

So here is my question. Is there any place that has a manual for the 6208? I am finding it very frustrating to hunt and peck for how to record, save and deal with the PVR. Again apologies if this has been asked and answered previoulsy. I was not as concerned about a manual for the 6200 as it did not have the same bells and whistles. I will continue to read the posts here, and again thanks to those who have spent the time to figure this machine out.

So here is my question. Is there any place that has a manual for the 6208? I am finding it very frustrating to hunt and peck for how to record, save and deal with the PVR. Again apologies if this has been asked and answered previoulsy. I was not as concerned about a manual for the 6200 as it did not have the same bells and whistles. I will continue to read the posts here, and again thanks to those who have spent the time to figure this machine out.
You can find a manual here. (http://broadband.motorola.com/noflash/customer_docs/user_guides/513392-001.pdf) If you don't like that version there is a retail version and you can find it by fiddling with the url previously listed. Or just google motorola 6208 manual

Hidefbob....since you've had both Starchoice and Expressvu, what is your take on the picture quality of the analog channels like Sportsnet, and TSN, CBC, Global, and the US network for non hdtv material?

I have a expressu 6000 and 5800 right now, considering switching.....

Thanks!

I almost never watch non HDTV programming - basically for me, if it is not HDTV it is not worth watching.

However, sometimes I am forced to watch some SDTV. I will be watching the figure skating on CBC tomorrow ... I will do a comparison between the 3 sources and let you know.

Thanks bob. Some shows like Survivor and the Aprentice give us no hdtv still, so I know I will still be watching some regular tv. Also sportsnet has dropped all it's hdtv coverage of basketball which means I will be watching all my backetball in regular. Meanwhile in the USA they get tons of hdtv games. Grrr....

Thanks gworg. I think that I need to clarify my request. I do have the Motorola Manual that comes with the 6200/6208, but it does not provide any information on the workings of the PVR and the nuances like how to get the 30 second skip. That information is posted here and very much appreciated. I do not recall ever getting a manual that does not go through all of the features a machine has! I will try to find it on Google as you suggest. Thanks again.

The 30 second skip will always be a 'backdoor' function that you have to go to places like this to find out about. It's the same for Tivo. It's for legal reasons of course.

Thanks bob. Some shows like Survivor and the Aprentice give us no hdtv still, so I know I will still be watching some regular tv. Also sportsnet has dropped all it's hdtv coverage of basketball which means I will be watching all my backetball in regular. Meanwhile in the USA they get tons of hdtv games. Grrr....

I am watching the figure skating on CBC ... it is no contest ... Bell ExpressVu is far superior in PQ. Cable is very poor ... very grainy. However, for some reason I have never been able to get a decent PQ from the CBC via cable ... even for SDTV.

I will check out Survivor and some other programs later.

Patience ... I am afraid that is still what is needed in the transition to digital TV (which seems to HDTV even though HD is not mandated). I think we are looking at 2010 before the transition is complete.

I have a few questions.

1. Can I use the 6208 with a regular 4:3 non-HDTV TV using s-video? Will I be able to see the menus? I want the device for the PVR capability but don't have an HDTV, and don't plan on getting one any time soon. (Shaw's web site says an HDTV is required to use the unit.)

2. Can you watch the HDTV channels on a non-HDTV TV? (It downconverts the signal.) It'd be a nice bonus just to get the movies. My 4:3 TV even has a 16:9 mode.

3. Since I only have a 32" Samsung 4:3 TV, should I worry about the picture quality on analogue and digital channels compared to my current DCT2500? I'm not a picky person really, having settled for watching recorded shows in SP mode on a VCR for years - still my current method. But I don't want to be shocked if the quality is as bad as I've heard. Seems you guys are using high quality televisions/displays, so I'll probably not notice?

Yeah, I know I could get a DVD recorder with PVR, but if I sell my DCT2500, I could put the money towards the 6208 ($499 in Manitoba) so it'd be cheaper. Anybody want to buy it? :)

Thanks folks!

I have a few questions.

1. Can I use the 6208 with a regular 4:3 non-HDTV TV using s-video? Will I be able to see the menus? I want the device for the PVR capability but don't have an HDTV, and don't plan on getting one any time soon. (Shaw's web site says an HDTV is required to use the unit.)

Yes, and yes.

2. Can you watch the HDTV channels on a non-HDTV TV? (It downconverts the signal.) It'd be a nice bonus just to get the movies. My 4:3 TV even has a 16:9 mode.

No.

3. Since I only have a 32" Samsung 4:3 TV, should I worry about the picture quality on analogue and digital channels compared to my current DCT2500? I'm not a picky person really, having settled for watching recorded shows in SP mode on a VCR for years - still my current method. But I don't want to be shocked if the quality is as bad as I've heard. Seems you guys are using high quality televisions/displays, so I'll probably not notice?

At 32", probably not. It's on larger HDTV's that you see how crappy the analogue signal really is.

Yeah, I know I could get a DVD recorder with PVR, but if I sell my DCT2500, I could put the money towards the 6208 ($499 in Manitoba) so it'd be cheaper. Anybody want to buy it? :)

$50 OK?

Originally Posted by Light Knight
2. Can you watch the HDTV channels on a non-HDTV TV? (It downconverts the signal.) It'd be a nice bonus just to get the movies. My 4:3 TV even has a 16:9 mode.
No.Actually, I believe you can if you use 480i output. I recall playing with this on my DCT5100 and I suspect the 6200 series is the same. The true 16:9 shows appear as letterboxed on your 4:3 TV and the 4:3 shows (on HDTV channels) end up being postage stamped (black borders on all sides).

Occasionally, when I tune my TV to an HD channel that is currently being recorded, I find I am getting a double image (almost like the split screen that one gets with the TV's picture in picture feature). The recording is fine, it is just the image sent to the TV while it records that is messed up. Has anyone else experienced this and is there a quick fix?

It sounds like your TV is expecting a 480i signal but is receiving a 480p signal. That will give you a double image / split screen like you are describing. I have no idea why you are getting this though, or how to fix it.

I have had this as well. My unscientific fix at the time was to rewind part way into the recording and the problem was gone. However when I later went to "live" I had the double problem again. My output is set to 720P.

Thanks Bob, I was afraid of that. Now I don't know what to do! LOL

Originally Posted by Light Knight
2. Can you watch the HDTV channels on a non-HDTV TV? (It downconverts the signal.) It'd be a nice bonus just to get the movies. My 4:3 TV even has a 16:9 mode.
Actually, I believe you can if you use 480i output. I recall playing with this on my DCT5100 and I suspect the 6200 series is the same. The true 16:9 shows appear as letterboxed on your 4:3 TV and the 4:3 shows (on HDTV channels) end up being postage stamped (black borders on all sides).
technut is right here, and white is incorrect afaik.

You simply use the s-video connection into the TV. There will be a menu setting to change in order to get on-screen menus working when you're watching an HD channel, but it shoudln't be a problem. In addition, you also have the choice of whether to letterbox the HD material on svid, or whether to use 'Pan & Scan' mode which chops the sides (usefull for upconverted SD, as it elminates the postage stamp situation that technut referred to)

Not only will this work, but I guarantee that the PQ you get out of the svid connection for HD channels will be a big step up from any SD channel, even though it is downconverted. It will look much like a DVD does with an svid connection.

I have had this as well. My unscientific fix at the time was to rewind part way into the recording and the problem was gone. However when I later went to "live" I had the double problem again. My output is set to 720P.
My output is set to 1080i so that's probably not a factor.

Ps Technut,
This problem occurred when recording an HD channel.

My output is set to 1080i so that's probably not a factor.


I've seen something similar to what's being described
but it was 2 or 3 months ago now
I was recording an HD movie and I'd come in half-way through

when I turned on the TV, there was a double image which persisted

when the recording had finished, it played back fine

I can't remember if I was using DVI or component back then
but my box was definitely set to 1080i

m

I was recording an HD movie and I'd come in half-way through

when I turned on the TV, there was a double image which persisted

when the recording had finished, it played back fine

Its the TV not syncing up. I have had this happen before when I leave the set top on and turn the TV off only while on an HD channel.

Last night I experienced 2 problems when recording West Wing in HD. First when the recording started, I was watching even as I recorded, the TV screen switched to something akin to snow, no picture but there was sound. I was unable to do anything to the receiver so I turned off the TV.

Half-hour later I turned on the TV and got the double image. Rewound about 5 min, hit play, everything OK. GO live and no double image. Turned off TV and still recording.

After the show ended I watched from the beginning. No problem, no snow, everything OK.

There has got to be a problem with watching and recording HD at the same time. I think I'll switch from 790P to 1080i and see if the same thing happens.