With HD content, the first FF speed is no faster than normal play speed, it is just chunkier. The second FF speed is flying along. Hopefully in the next release there will be a usable FF1 speed for HD.

Just a follow up on the problem that I was having with the pic being absent on power on. I saw Wolfman had the same problem. As a last resort I unplugged the power, left it for a minute and than powered it back on. This cured the problem somehow, obviously a software issue. The guide took an hour to download and now it is back to normal.

I vaguely recall seeing this somewhere, but using the search feature hasn't helped.

I believe there is a code to program an unnecessary or unused button on the remote of the DCT6412 to advance one day when searching in the guide.

Does anyone have this information or know where it can be found?

Thanks,
meshmellow

You're in luck mesh. ;)

http://www.hifi-remote.com/cgi-bin2/ueic.cgi?cbl_0476

I had to dig it up when I accidently copied over the day+/- that I had in my learning remote while transfering new PVR functionality over to it.

How can I program out the DVR functions out of the 'circle of buttons' on the top of the remote. I hate hitting select to bring up the mini guide, when I used to be able to just press one of the buttons (up, down, left, right). Also, how can I reprogram a button for the day +/-? The above info doesn't really help me...

Look back in this thread or the others about how to program the remote, and then when those instructions say to enter "173" for the skip key, simply enter any other 3-digit code from the page above for keys with other functionality.

With regards to the circle, I think you're getting in deep. The keys are the same codes actually transmitted by the earlier remotes; I know this because I didn't change my learning remote on those keys for the new box. This means that the remote is sending the same signal, but the box acts differently on those signals. You can look on that page for a different code that might work, or else delve into macros which would hit the select button for you upon pressing an arrow key.

Thanks. I'm just really sick of picking up the remote, accidently hittng one of the arrow buttons, and getting my picture rewound. Or not being able to get to the mini guide. I don't see the usefulness of having 2 buttons do the same thing.

You're in luck mesh. ;)

http://www.hifi-remote.com/cgi-bin2/ueic.cgi?cbl_0476

Thank you, Felgar! Why am I not surprised you would be the one to know?

mesh

Just a follow up on the problem that I was having with the pic being absent on power on. I saw Wolfman had the same problem. As a last resort I unplugged the power, left it for a minute and than powered it back on. This cured the problem somehow, obviously a software issue. ...
I found yesterday that my no-pic-on-power-on problem had resolved itself. I didn't do the unplug thing though... it got resolved by itself... perhaps a software upgrade was pushed to the unit. I'm still going to keep a small permanent recorded program on the harddrive though, in case the problem ever recurs.

Incidentally, it looks like the first program on the hard drive always uses a considerable chunk of space. Even a single small 2 minute SD program uses 3 to 4 percent of the drive. I suspect that, along with the first program, the unit reserves/allocates a bunch of space for indexes, etc.

I had the no-pic and no-sound on power up problem last week as well. I called shaw tech support, and they reprogrammed my unit, and the problem went away.

I had the no-pic and no-sound on power up problem last week as well. I called shaw tech support, and they reprogrammed my unit, and the problem went away.

Silly question, what does 'reprogramming' mean here? Is it just re-flashing an existing firmware, or is there a beta firmware out there? Generally, in a computer analogy, reinstalling the same version of software does not fix a "bug". FWIW, I have seen the no-pic bug as well ...

Check out the format in the diagnostic menu next time it happens. I've only ever seen QAM 64 for SD digital and QAM 256 for HD. I don't really know what these are or mean; I've been meaning to look into it.That's a way to modulate the signal to carry digital data. In this case the digital data is MPEG-2.

The MPEG-2 encoding (not the QAM encoding) is what I think may be different on those STAR programs I had trouble with. I need to look deeper into MPEG-2 and also check if any MPEG-2 info/stats are reported in the diagnostics or somewhere on the 6412.

Is there a way to access the video format menu when the cable box is on? I would like the option to toggle between 4/3 letterbox to 4/3 pan scan. Having to power down to do this is driving me nuts! Any solutions??? Thanks

Dan

Hi,
Now my 6412 is pulling a new trick - it mutes when I turn it on sometimes, and I can't unmute it.

It has the word "MUTE" in white letters written on the top of the screen, so I assume that means the box itself is muting. Any ideas how I unmute it?

Thanks!

It has the word "MUTE" in white letters written on the top of the screen, so I assume that means the box itself is muting. Any ideas how I unmute it?

Thanks!

Shaggy,

Look back in this same thread and I think you'll find the answers you want.

meshmellow

You're right - I don't know how I missed that! Thanks!

3) I've had two recordings that would not let me FF or Rew through them, they would just jump right to the end or beginning. Both were long shows (1.5 and 2 hours) and both were from the STAR channel. I did discover I could use the 30-second Skip and the 15-second Replay functions still, but the picture came back very blocky immediately after using them and then cleaned up in a second.Did a little more testing and I have the same problems when rewinding or FF'ing live TV on STAR channel, so it is probably not specific to particular programs or program length.

Anybody else noticed this? On STAR or any other channels? I'm still suspecting it is an issue with how the 6412 handles certain flavours of MPEG-2.

Anybody else noticed this? On STAR or any other channels? I'm still suspecting it is an issue with how the 6412 handles certain flavours of MPEG-2.

I have a 6208 and have reported the same problem to Shaw and this forum with FF and REW on the Star!TV channel and Sportsnet Digital West, Ontario and East. These are channels 65, 71, 72 and 73 here in Kelowna. Someone reported earlier in this thread, I think, that they had tried recording on these channels and reported no problems with FF or REW with the 6412. I assumed that the problem had been fixed with 6412. Star!TV is a freee digital channel so it is easy to test but the digital Sportnet channels cost extra and not everybody subscribes.

I stopped subscribing to Sportsnet digital channels shortly after I verified the problem and Shaw did not have a fix and couldn't tell me when it would be fixed. I used the free digital channel offering last month to verify that the problem was still there before again complaining to Shaw. I am now planning on cancelling some more channels because of the lack of response from Shaw to fix this and another two long outstanding bugs in the 6208.

I have problems with Star too. At first it would tune fine, but when I rewound and hit the start of the program it came up with message: "Unable to process request. Please contact technical support at 716-6000, Error Code HW"... Or something like that.

Then I got it in slow-motion, and everything I pressed came up with the message. The box finally snapped out of it when I hit 'last' which took me back to an HD channel.

Thought I'd share my upgrade tale with the forum. Not that there is anything especially newsworthy, but maybe another Edmontonian might read this and do the same.

I purchased a 6208 box last September (my first DCT from Shaw, and my first PVR experience). Needless to say, I was initially thrilled with HD viewing (yes, I wish there was more content, but I'll be patient). However, back then, with their encryption problems, I was experiencing up to 15 minute delays tuning in an HD channel, and this really infuriated me. So much so that I frequently complained to various Shaw CSR's (never really getting a satisfactory answer) until I discovered this forum and learned what the problem was. Anyway, I was glad they finally fixed that problem, even tho it took a couple of months to do, and then was outraged that the day after they fixed the problem they dropped the price of the 6208. Boy, was I pissed at that. I hassled Shaw again about it, and they finally gave me a credit of $150 on my account, which I guess I was able to live with.

Then I started getting really bugged about the PQ on my analog reception. After viewing many posts about this on this forum, I managed to get it reasonably fixed (by using the RF out feed from the 6208 for my analog and SD viewing). But what I really wanted was a dual tuner, so I could actually watch something while recording another station, and was pleased to hear about the 6412.

I phoned Shaw this morning and asked if they would buy back my 6208, and they offerd me $270 as a trade-in (I didn't bother to mention the $150 credit they gave me previously for bitching about price drop). I decided to go for it, and it's now set up and working fine. I guess some others are getting a better deal, but I'm happy enough with the $420 that I ultimately received back on my original 6208 purchase towards the new 6412 unit that I will stop worrying about it.

I was a little discouraged that the RF out was missing on the 6412 because of my analog PQ concerncs, but to my surprise, the PQ on my analog stations is surprisingly better. I can't explain why, but there ya go...that's how it is for me here in Edmonton. I'm quite pleased with it. I also like the "series record" feature that's present now, and it seems to skip forward a little faster (that may be my false impression, but it's certainly my initial impression). And of course, I don't understand why they never had dual tuners in these things in the first place.

So, these are my impressions after 1 day....I'm sure I'll start bitching about something in a few more days :)

Thanks for a wonderful forum guys (and gals)...I've learned a lot from here.

Dave