Now it seems like Shaw has scrabbled the signal, when I record it is all wavy. I've tried a different VCR, tapes, and different cables same result. Any ideas?

Try looking at this thread:

http://www.digitalhomecanada.com/forum/showthread.php?t=34604

Also, this one:

http://www.digitalhomecanada.com/forum/showthread.php?t=37811

See the discussion regarding DVD recorders. Sounds like the same problem and the same solution.

meshmellow

Hi folks, i'm a bit of a tech dummy but was wondering if it is possible to hook the dct 6412 up to a home network and use if for internet access and to access digital music on my pc hard drive?? Thanks in advance!

Nope. Ethernet ports and internal modem slots but so far these are disabled.

I have just gotten a 6412 (mainly for the PVR, my TV is still SD) and I was wondering if it's possible at all to enable "anamorphic" output for the 480i HD signals (my sony TV is capable of "squeezing" anamorphic signals to get more resolution in the 16x9 image). Currently I can only get a "full frame" 16x9 with black bars vs what I am able to get from my DVD player (which outputs anamorphic, which is squeezed by the TV making it a lot nicer to look at).

Currently I have the 6412 conented to my tv with hdmi, analog audio to my steroe, S-video to my tv (better for some channels), composite (yellow) to my vcr. Anyone know if there are issues in doing this as far as PQ? I might be also connecting component to my tv. I find different connects work better depending on the program. For flames PPV I use either s-video or route through my vcr with composite as HDMI is to "pixelly".

Are there problems with powering down the box during a recording? It's kind of a normal thing for me, I'll start a recording, then turn everything off to watch later. I've noticed twice recently that it split my recording into two parts when I did this. In fact when I power it down, it gives me that option screen as if you were trying to change the channel...Stop the Action, Swap Tuners, Continue etc...

I know many here believe in leaving the box on at all times anyways, so that would solve the problem. My concern is, that since it records everything you watch, leaving it on means it's working 24/7, rather than getting a break here and there when I turn it off. (I'm more concerned about 'wear and tear' than power consumption.)

I've noticed twice recently that it split my recording into two parts when I did this. In fact when I power it down, it gives me that option screen as if you were trying to change the channel...Stop the Action, Swap Tuners, Continue etc...

I've seen this message only twice. On the first occasion, I had turned the box on while it was recording. I chose "Swap Tuners" and ended up with the recording continuing but being split in two.

The next time I saw the message (can't quite recall the circumstances), I was more wary and chose "Continue". Shortly after, I checked the recording and found it was continuing and was not split in two.

I'm wondering which option you chose.

meshmellow

I've seen this message only twice. On the first occasion, I had turned the box on while it was recording. I chose "Swap Tuners" and ended up with the recording continuing but being split in two.

The next time I saw the message (can't quite recall the circumstances), I was more wary and chose "Continue". Shortly after, I checked the recording and found it was continuing and was not split in two.

I'm wondering which option you chose.

meshmellow
Thanks for the quick response.

The way I have my "Master Power" button set up, I only saw the message for a second, then the TV went off...I'm pretty sure I chose "Swap Tuners" in both cases, but I didn't turn the TV back on to see it. I'll keep an eye for it and choose "Continue" if it happens again.

What is your position on leaving the box on 24/7?

My concern is, that since it records everything you watch, leaving it on means it's working 24/7, rather than getting a break here and there when I turn it off. (I'm more concerned about 'wear and tear' than power consumption.)

You never actually turn it 'off'. All you do is disable the video out. The box keeps working the same no matter if it is on or 'off'. I have left mine on for well over a year and the 6208 for about 6-8 months before that. Some of the issues with turning it 'off' have been resolved with this latest firmware update (like the annoying habit of turning itself off when you are watching it if you turned it on while it was recording something), but it still seems to be the best plan to leave it on and since there is no 'wear and tear' issue, why not?

You never actually turn it 'off'. All you do is disable the video out. The box keeps working the same no matter if it is on or 'off'. I have left mine on for well over a year and the 6208 for about 6-8 months before that. Some of the issues with turning it 'off' have been resolved with this latest firmware update (like the annoying habit of turning itself off when you are watching it if you turned it on while it was recording something), but it still seems to be the best plan to leave it on and since there is no 'wear and tear' issue, why not?
If that's the case, the I'll likely just leave it on.

What is your position on leaving the box on 24/7?

I turn mine off.

meshmellow

I also turn mine off. Even though the unit stays powered up, the hard drive stops writing data.

All hard drives will fail eventually - its just a matter of time. I don't know what the MTBF (mean time before failure) is for this drive, but its likely between 500,000 and 1,000,000 hours, which works out to something between 50 and 100 years! So its highly unlikely that the drive will ever be in use that long - more like 3-5 years, maybe 10 at the most.

However, ATA and SATA drives are not designed for 24/7 continuous use, the way SCSI disks are. ATA drives are one-third to one-half as reliable as SCSI drives if you spin them continuously. But if the duty cycle is only active 25 percent of the time, that means, theoretically, you will increase the life expectancy of the drives by four times.

So its possible that continuous use may substantially shorten the drive's lifespan and cycling the use will extend it. Although, even if its lifespan is shortened by half, it might still run for 25 years or more. Or not.

YMMV

I turn it off after the firmware upgrade. It gets real hot and like to let it cool when possible. Some have said that it buffers when off but testing shows it does not.

Against that is the often-heard opinion that electronics age more from cool-down / warm-up cycles than many hours of steady on time. Any electronics types wish to comment on the relative merits of turning it off, thus cycling the electronics but resting the disk, vs. leaving it on... sparing the electronics but aging the disk?

I've never heard a definitive answer for my computers, either, which I tend to turn off overnight. I'm currently running 2 that are 6 years old, and never had a problem with either (touch wood).

Against that is the often-heard opinion that electronics age more from cool-down / warm-up cycles than many hours of steady on time. Any electronics types wish to comment on the relative merits of turning it off, thus cycling the electronics but resting the disk, vs. leaving it on... sparing the electronics but aging the disk?

I've never heard a definitive answer for my computers, either, which I tend to turn off overnight. I'm currently running 2 that are 6 years old, and never had a problem with either (touch wood).
I've always turned everything off (computers included), and I have had pretty good luck with it.

As I said, I'm just concerned about the 24/7 use of the drive if you leave it on...but then there's always the cycle on/off argument..

Are there problems with powering down the box during a recording? It's kind of a normal thing for me, I'll start a recording, then turn everything off to watch later. I've noticed twice recently that it split my recording into two parts when I did this. In fact when I power it down, it gives me that option screen as if you were trying to change the channel...Stop the Action, Swap Tuners, Continue etc...

I know many here believe in leaving the box on at all times anyways, so that would solve the problem. My concern is, that since it records everything you watch, leaving it on means it's working 24/7, rather than getting a break here and there when I turn it off. (I'm more concerned about 'wear and tear' than power consumption.)
I have had the split recordings and the messages several times on my phase 3 unit. More annoying, I have a new problem with the PVR: a programmed recording is not recorded as expected and I get a message it could not be done because the disk is full when, in fact, only 7% of the disk is used. I go to LIST and it shows disk used at 100%. This happened twice in 2 weeks (not always at the 7% point but below 20% each time).

I called Shaw and they said they are aware of the problem. They told me to unplug the unit and reboot and that solved the problem. The disk showed 7% used again. I asked if they were planning a software fix and they said they are monitoring the calls for service about this and, if there are enough, they will ask Motorola for a fix but not before that.

It's really a problem as there is no way to be sure any of the programs I programmed for future recordings will be recorded or not due to this erroneous disk full error...

Anyone else experienced the same thing or know of a way to make the box behave properly? Thanks!

pdubois, discussion of the 100% full message begins on page 2 of the firmware update thread (i.e. http://www.digitalhomecanada.com/forum/showthread.php?t=37811&page=2)
Read the last few pages of the thread for proposed workarounds.

I leave mine on & when I'm done watching, I switch to the digital music channels which are not buffered (which would be really cool if they were).

I called in with a few of my complaints "glitches" and traded in my PI for a P3 (M4) without any problem :D and I may even try turning it off again now too.

I leave mine on & when I'm done watching, I switch to the digital music channels which are not buffered (which would be really cool if they were).

Are you sure that they are not buffered? I thought after the firmware update
that you now had the ability to pause the music? If that is true, then we're
not actually saving anything by placing the box on channel 4xx when not in
use.

Additionally, some dude here said that he checked the electrical usage of the
box when on a music channel vs. a regular channel. They both resulted in the
same electrical usage, suggesting that (again), we're not saving anything.