My PVR has been locking up for the last four nights. During playing of a recorded show the picture and sound freezes. I cannot forward, rewind or delete the show. In fact, I cannot get any "live" non recorded shows either. ALL of the recording show that they have played for XX minutes and YY minutes remain. They only way to bring the recorded material back is by soft rebooting the box (unplug/plug). Shaw then did a hard reboot two nights ago and the same thing happened last night. So, I got a new box today and I think this is the 5th 6412 that I now have.

I have also had two techs come in to look at the signal etc and they all think they are no issues with the signal.

I am impressed with the service but I am getting tired of the crappy hardware/software combination.

Any news or whispers as to when the 5.1 and HDMI problem will be fixed on the Phase III's? I remember back in November that Motorola apparently had a firmware fix for it but so far we haven't seen it. Anyone know anything?

So, I got a new box today and I think this is the 5th 6412 that I now have.

I am getting tired of the crappy hardware/software combination.


I'm really starting to doubt the reliability of the DCT6412 after reading the horror stories in these forums. I was almost ready to spend the $700 but I'm starting to wonder.

PWM, with the excellent exchange policy of Shaw, the risk is less. Just keep the box well ventilated.

I just bought one last week. First service call from Shaw is tomorrow. the box is well ventilated, but I am getting heavy intermittent pixelation and somewhat regular light pixelation on all channels. Other than that the SD pciture qualkity is a marked improvemnet over my Moto 5100 box. The recoding features are great. Plyaback sucks if the above mentioned pixelation is present. got the box at A & B in Calgary for $648 (they price matched Soundsaround). Bottom line I like the box for the improved SD picture and recording. I know I've slagged Shaw on these boards before, but you can't beat their service and frankly, their prices are still cheaper than the competition. Also, I tried to hang on for Telus, but they dropped the ball as far as I was concerned with their initial offering.

I think that I've had no problems with my Phase III 6412, (I've had it for a couple of months now), but I've had the recorder miss the last ten minutes of a show the odd time. I don't know what the reason could be.

Toybox, what series of P3 box do you have? G1, M1, M3?

Any news or whispers as to when the 5.1 and HDMI problem will be fixed on the Phase III's?

I've been told the following by Shaw support in Calgary: "From what Motorola has been telling us, they are releasing the new firmware by the spring of 2006. This should clear up the audio problems that you are experiencing."

Does Shaw update firmware as it comes online or do have to call to complain?

Had to get my 1 week old Phase III box replaced due to pixelation. Trouble is they gave me a GI (Phase II) box in return. While is it stable and quiet and generally works as advertised, the SD PQ is noticeable worse than the Phase III. The tech noted I wasn't happy with this turn of events so they put on a note on my file that I'd be coming in to swap boxes. Have to say, I'm unimpressed that the tech didn't have the right box, but impressed with Shaw's service.

CalgaryCowboy firmware updates are automatic when Shaw decides to roll them out.

Kudos to Shaw! I went down to their retail store and swapped the Phase II box for a new Phase III (GI series). Plugged her in, nice young lady from Shaw activated it and presto, I'm back in business. I must say that both the HD and SD picture quality is superior to the Phase II. Noticed it right off the bat.

Toybox, what series of P3 box do you have? G1, M1, M3?

I believe mine starts with M4. I did buy it only a couple of months ago. I did notice today that I had no picture and sound again, and had to call Shaw to do a reset, which eventually worked. I told them if it does it again I'll bring it in and swap it out. The CSR wanted to send a tech to "check the cables" but I refused. I know the cables are fine.

The reason I asked is that the series numbers have been mentioned in this thread before, often associated with a bad box. I was gung-ho to get an M4 box, because I believed it to be the latest, greatest box. After my recent experience, I've come to believe that isn't necessarily true. Although its only been 7 hrs or so, I've been impressed with my new P3 GI series box. Makes me wonder whether Motorola brands their boxes according to where it was manufactured. GI for old General Instruments plants and M for Motorola plants. I'm guessing that this could result in quality differences.

Lemme get this straight...

HD PVR with Shaw will record HD content and play it back in HD resolution/quality?

I have heard DVD recorder will record HD picture but down size the quality as it cannot record in HD quality, is this true?

My dilemna:

Get Shaws HD cable box and a DVD recorder or....... Shaws HD PVR cable box and a simple progressive scan DVD player?

My needs: HD content, recording my shows(both HD and non-HD content), viewing DVD's.

Both of my choices are pretty much the same price. What do I do?!?! Please help.

Thanks everyone.

I tried out getting the HD box and considered getting a hard-drive DVD player to go with it, but then I returned the box and got the HD PVR instead. The major advantage of the PVR is having 2 tuners, so you can watch a program while recording something else. You can even watch a recorded program while 2 other programs are recording. This is a major advantage over an HD Box / DVD Recorder combination. With the combination, you have to leave the HD box on the channel you are recording, plus you have to control everything by synchronizing two separate units. With the PVR, everything is accessible through the program guide. Add the ability to record and play true HD on the PVR, and it was a no-brainer for me.

Totally agree with derek, dont bother with an hard drive/dvd recorder. Get the pvr and an upscaling dvd player (and recorder if you need that function). Better still get the hd pvr and wait a couple months and get an hd dvd player or blue ray player (ps3?). Rebuying components is a nightmare, the pvr and hd dvd will cost more but gives you lots of added hd content possibilities. If you want to archive true hd a dvhs recorder is another option (have one and love it).

Totally agree with derek, dont bother with an hard drive/dvd recorder. Get the pvr and an upscaling dvd player (and recorder if you need that function). Better still get the hd pvr and wait a couple months and get an hd dvd player or blue ray player (ps3?). Rebuying components is a nightmare, the pvr and hd dvd will cost more but gives you lots of added hd content possibilities. If you want to archive true hd a dvhs recorder is another option (have one and love it).

Thanks Derek80 & Paul Clancy,

It sounds like for easy convenience the HD PVR is the way to go. A bit pricey but you gotta' pay to play.

Has anyone noticed difference in volume levels when playing recorded vs. live shows on 6412 pIII?
Live is at least twice as loud with the same volume setting.

I have that problem, every time i stop a show the volume on live is just blasting, I wonder why that is.

I bought a 6412 used, it's from shaw, yet I cannot get it activated

it's not from the U.S.

I told the csr the serial #, then was told to sell it back where I got it

after reading alot of posts here, I did not think I would have a problem

I have called twice, first time just to make sure it wasnt stolen, called second time after reading people's experience

I asked if these boxes were not allowed to be sold used, basically was told no, and that because of collections from the original owner, I would never be able to activate

are the serial #'s encoded? what if anything can I do, can I trade my 6208 & this 6412 for another valid 6412?

thanks