Alright, thanks for the help. I'm in Banff and we barely just went from having 4 HD channels to 11. I really don't think we'll get all digital any time soon. Such a shame if I buy the 6416, I will have to try and switch down the road.
If Banff does eventually get the all digital map, you won't need to change any hardware, Shaw would just have to add the "Digital FSC" code to your account and hit your box with the new map. The 6416 can do digital as well as analog.

The 3416 is only available in all digital areas (Victoria, Vancouver, Edmonton, Calgary, and Winnipeg & more to come if not already here).
The 6416 is the equivalent DCT for all other regions.
If you put your postal code into the shaw website it will automatically recognize what type of area you are in and list the appropriate types of DCTs for you so you don't get something that will not work in your area. :)

I just started noticing a problem with 'Record a Series'. It may be happening in conjuction with the new 14 day guide but it could also be coincidence.

When I have a series set for recording, some episodes get missed. A repeat episode later in the week and new episodes the next week are marked for recording. If I manually view that episode, the recorder seems to know that it is part of a series recording yet doesn't mark it with the red dots in the guide or in the future show recordings.

Anyone else seeing this? This is rather puzzling and frustrating since I could be missing shows without knowing about it.

Bought another DCT off Ebay, this one a DCT6412/2005.
Attempted to perform the Factory Full Reset (as described in several locations on this site) and received the following feedback messages on the LED display..................
1st error Eb 09, followed by hunt FR1 thru to FR12 then repeat and then 2nd error Eb 11 then third error Eb 02 then ultimately n dl and that's where it ends.
According to this site and the definitions posted at Wikipedia (http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/How_to_use_a_Motorola_DVR/Boot_Error_Codes) this does not appear to be promising.
Question #1, is there any suggestions on how to get this box up and running or is it a paper weight?
Question #2, I have a DCT6200 and DCT6208 is there a simple way to swap some components to make 6412 operational?

From what I've been told, error codes ending in 9 and 11 aren't repairable.

Your problem is fairly common. I've seen it on quite a few units.

From what I've been told, error codes ending in 9 and 11 aren't repairable.

Your problem is fairly common. I've seen it on quite a few units.
Any way to swap components with one of the other boxes, DCT620x??

Not sure where to post this, but I wonder how long it might take Shaw (if ever) to adopt the new software. Version 75.58-rel-9078 released Nov. 6th, 2007.

It has some nice new features:

* The menu ovals are vertically shorter
* The scroll arrows on the top or bottom of a list now have the text 'More Choices' around it.
* Parental Control: Separate Movie and TV ratings locks, lock by content (Language, Violence, etc...), hide titles of both TV-MA and Adult content.
* Search can use an on-screen keyboard (still limited to 5 characters), save searches.
* If you type in a non-existent channel number, it will tune to the next available channel.
* Pressing GUIDE while the program guide is displayed will toggle between the grid and single-channel list modes.
* VOD Preview default action is to stop, not Buy.
* DVR: When scheduling a live event, you will be asked how much time to add (must be enabled in Guide setup).
* DVR: If there is a 5 minute or less program overlap, the DVR will clip the beginning of the second recording. The text (Clipped) will appear in the scheduled recording list, next to the recording dot. (must be enabled in Guide setup).
* DVR: The Swap Tuner prompt will only show if both tuners are recording. The swap will be automatic otherwise.
* DVR: When you reach the end of a recording, it will only pause. The delete popup will show after 10-15 seconds, or immediately if you hit STOP.

Here's a link to the Comcast site explaining some of the features a little better. (http://www.comcast.com/newguide/#)

I like the addition of time to Live recordings and the 'smart overlap' feature. The on-screen keyboard and saved searches are cool too.

Their reasoning for the 10-15 second pause at the end of recordings doesn't work as well as what we currently have.Based on customer feedback, this enhancement now offers you the opportunity to rewind from the end of a DVR recording -- useful, for example, if you want to go back and watch the last scene of the program again.With Shaw's software the prompt comes up right away, AND you can still rewind (if you do, the prompt goes away). Not sure why Comcast felt a 15 second pause--that give the impression the DCT has "frozen"--is a better direction.

Thanks for the info Spitoon. It does sound like there's a couple of new features of interest.

On Shaw's last firmware update they actually got ahead of Comcast for once. But traditionally they are several versions behind. I suspect they will take their time before they upgrade us, unless there is a serious problem that is addressed in the new firmware.

They got it from Shaw and it says "Comcast" right on the front of it.
It's supposed to be brand new, it wasn't a satellite swap or anything like that.
Also when the box is turned off the picture still displays on their plasma, but no audio. It is hooked up via component cables.
Weird? Anyone else?
Would Motorola get them mixed up?

Hmmmmmm definitely should have never been sold if it is a Comcast DCT. Perhaps take it in to the local office and get them to deal with them on this. Have them check other DCTs still in the box and see if they say Comcast too.

If could be that the DCT was imported by another customer and managed to get it to work on the system. Then it was swapped out (which it should not have been) by a tech. Then it was tested and found to be working. It was then packaged up in a box to go out again as a refurb and was picked up as a new one by the tech and given to them. Now admitted the chances of this happening are probably slim (and he's headin outta town) but maybe.

I've got the 6416 here in Saskatoon. It's hooked up by HDMI to a Sharp LC46D64U.

I like it so far except for a couple of quality issues. Every once in a while I'll lose a couple of seconds of sound. Also I note on the HD channels that fast pans or quick cuts where the scene changes significantly results in blockiness/pixelation, very annoying. Shaw rep claims it's a signal quality issue and they're coming tomorrow to check it out. I buy the sound cut-outs and there's some clear signal issues on some of their marginal channels, but that pixellation thing looks like a bandwidth/codec-y thing to me. Can anyone confirm if this is a limitation of the codec? An LCD TV thing?

I've got the 6416 here in Saskatoon. It's hooked up by HDMI to a Sharp LC46D64U.

I like it so far except for a couple of quality issues. Every once in a while I'll lose a couple of seconds of sound. Also I note on the HD channels that fast pans or quick cuts where the scene changes significantly results in blockiness/pixelation, very annoying. Shaw rep claims it's a signal quality issue and they're coming tomorrow to check it out. I buy the sound cut-outs and there's some clear signal issues on some of their marginal channels, but that pixellation thing looks like a bandwidth/codec-y thing to me. Can anyone confirm if this is a limitation of the codec? An LCD TV thing?

See this thread http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=70989&goto=newpost

That thread confirms the audo drops are Shaw's problem, but I don't see anyone else detailing a correlation between pans or cuts causing pixellation. Still looks codec-y to me.

As suggested by 57 here, try component cables instead of HDMI to see if that helps with audio drop outs.

The blockiness/pixelation could be codec limitation or bandwidth related, or a combination of the two related to compression. Or a signal issue (e.g. causing errors in the stream). Or even just some SD graphics used as part of a logo wipe during a sports event.

Note that proper calibration makes a difference as some TV settings emphasize or highlight the blocks more than others. See this post from Jaw for a few things to try to minimize the effects.

Hope that helps.

I have not had sound on CBC HD for a few days now. The last time I had sound was during the Grey cup game but even then the sound was not there during the interviews, particularly during the pre-game show. For a while I had sound on the actual program but not during the commercials, which was mostly OK by me. But, now there is no sound on this channel at all. I have sound on CBC SD and and every other channel.

I called Shaw and they did the usual...un-plug and plug routine and another reset of the box. The issue persists and Shaw seem stumped.

Now, I can exchange the box but that is not my first choice of solutions. I have 6412 but I don't really want to bother with setting up all of the series.

Any ideas of what maybe up?

Update:

Last night I had no sound during Scrubs (recorded off HD channel).

This box is going back.

My gf was watching my name is earl this morning, and the dialogue cut out for probably the last 5 minutes of the show. There was still background noise though. Next up, 30 rock... same thing... I believe scrubs comes after 30 rock, and all are on NBC. These were recorded obvisouly. Stopping the show and restarting didn't help.

This was on the NBC east feed in Vancouver.

1st error Eb 09, followed by hunt FR1 thru to FR12 then repeat and then 2nd error Eb 11 then third error Eb 02 then ultimately n dl and that's where it ends.

Eb09 means that the software check failed and it will try again in 2 minutes.

The hunt Fr1 thru Fr12 is the box trying to find and lock onto the OOB(out of band) channel. This is the channel where all of the info for the DCT to work comes from. If it's hunting then that means it can't find it for some reason. Could be interference, poor signal, or the OOB tuner is shot in the box. It'll try doing this twice. If another DCT works fine when hooked up at this location then it could be the DCT that has the problem.

Eb11 means that the box couldn't lock onto the OOB (see above).

Eb02 means that the code download failed...because it couldn't find the OOB and ndl means "no download" and has exhausted all attempts.

Hope that helps explain.

My gf was watching my name is earl this morning, and the dialogue cut out for probably the last 5 minutes of the show. There was still background noise though. Next up, 30 rock... same thing... I believe scrubs comes after 30 rock, and all are on NBC. These were recorded obvisouly. Stopping the show and restarting didn't help.

This was on the NBC east feed in Vancouver.
It sounds like the NBC east feed dropped the center channel. I've seen this same issue with ABC.