Posts deleted. This thread is about the Multi Room DVR.

One thing I noticed while reading up on the MR models for another thread:

What features are not currently supported in MR-DVR?
- Currently, MR-DVR does not support Explorer HD set-tops as client set-tops. The HD recordings from the 8300 MR-DVR server are not available for playback on Explorer HD set-tops in a multi-room environment.

Crappy.

One thing I noticed while reading up on the MR models for another thread:

What features are not currently supported in MR-DVR?
- Currently, MR-DVR does not support Explorer HD set-tops as client set-tops. The HD recordings from the 8300 MR-DVR server are not available for playback on Explorer HD set-tops in a multi-room environment.

Crappy.


But I wonder if it is possible for an 8300 HD PVR to host up the HD show to an SD box while downsampling? I doubt it, but maybe.

I am confused on how the multiroom will be connected. The pdf file states that it can be used with existing cable wiring in the home but does this mean:

1) the multiroom will find any SA box that is already connected in your house and utilize it ?

2) you have to take the output(s) of the multiroom and connect it to the SA box in each room.

number 1 would be easy, number 2 means you have to rewire your whole house unless you put it where the main cable comes in and after the splitter !!
:confused:

Nobody seemed to ever answer this. I sure hope it is #1 but can anyone confirm? I have read over the documents on the SA web site and nowhere does it talk about running extra cables between the DVR and the client boxes.

-Darryl

The way I understand it there is an isolation block that goes on at the entry to the home. and then the multi room PVR can talk to all the boxes in the home (max 4 ?). It is going to take Rogers a long time to test this thing enough that they are comfortable releasing it.

From this (http://www.digitalhomecanada.com/forum/showthread.php?t=31597) link in the Rogers forum, it looks like I'll have to eat my earlier words, and speculate that Rogers may well be about to launch MR-DVR services.

And it's quite possible that these will be added to our current PVR's.

I stand humbly corrected if they do. :) Can't remember where I was having the discussion earlier, or who I was discussing it with, but whoever it was looks like they were right, and I was wrong. :)

Still annoyed about the lack of HD-serving ability, but it's a step!

To the question of how they will connect to other STBs...

Motorola is providing the same capability for its DCT6412 and DCT2500 series units. The way it is doing it is with a small networking box that attaches to the STB and then connects to the cable in the house (NO new co-ax required.)

Now it is possible that SA decided that all new hardware was required and the equivalent "dongle" is now built into the new STB or they may be doing it the same way as Motorola. Either way, it will not need new co-ax runs.

P.S. -- I want it too!!! NB is supposed to get our MOTO 6412 boxes this fall so maybe we will get Whole home PVR too!!!

The SA boxes do it basically the same way AFAIK, there's a dongleish thing you put on your incomong line that keeps your 'broadcasts' from going beyond your walls. Otherwise I suspect you'd be able to browse at least your immediate neighbors recordings. Which may or may not be a good thing depending on which end you're on. :)

For those that can't wait for the MR, here is my personal experience in getting similar setup.

Three months ago, I got tired of waiting for the MR unit, so I opurchase a (The Source CC) wireless Audio/video sender to my 8300HD PVR and I am able to use the PVR from my bedroom TV upstairs. The sending box plugs on the "VCR-out" -RCA of the PVR and sends the signal on 2.4GHZ to the receiver box upstairs. (The remote works from the receivng box down to the TV room - allowing full remote control).

This cost me only $100 but works flawlessly - the folllowing are the 2 situations how we use the remote PVR:
1)If the kids are watching a DVD downstairs on the big TV, we can take the remote upstairs and use the PVR like we were in the room.
2) If someone is using the PVR downstairs, we can use the "sent to VCR" function to view a recording upstairs - albeit without control.

(note that my TV is HD downstairs but not upstairs- but that does not creat a problem)

Further, I also transfer some recording to DVD via my computer - in that case, I move the receiving unit to the computer room (also) upstairs and record the show on the harddrive via my ATI AIW card. Then go the process of removing the commercials and the authoring and burn the DVD. (I could have use an RF cable, but this way I get a better picture and sterio sound.

With that kind of setup, I get most of the MR functions, it would appear.

It is certainly better than going without any of the features!!!

That sounds like a great product, but I want to transmit HDTV signals, not just SDTV. And that isn't even possible with the SA 8300 MR-PVR. One would have to wait for the SA 8300HD MR-PVR. That will probably be a while since the SDTV version isn't even in Canada yet.

Here is a way to get HDTV to all your sets now and not have to wait for the HD Multi-room PVR.

I currently have the cable out of my 8300 PVR split to 3 other TV's in other rooms. I use remote ir extenders to control the 8300 from any room. Now I want to do this with the 8300HD PVR.

But, if either the component video or HDMI output port on the 8300HD PVR is used, the other port won't work. The cable out port is an SDTV signal (not an HDTV signal so I can't use that port). HDMI splitters and cable are very expensive. Component video splitters are not as expensive but long component video cables are and my walls are already closed up and those cables are almost impossible to fish through walls.

But I do have cat5e cable running to all my rooms already (and it is easier to fish through if that is necessary). I am just going to split the component video feed into two feeds, use a balun that will allow me to connect to cat5e, then just put another balun at the other end of the cat5e and use component video cable to connect that to the HDTV. I'll use another cat5 to connect an IR extender to a pass through IR emitter on the 8300. Voila! HDTV in a second room, only had to buy one 8300HD PVR, can access all HDTV and SDTV stored on it from either HDTV, and the remote works just like I was in front of the 8300.

Cost? ($CDN)

Component Video Splitter - 1 required - 1 in/5 out - $200
Baluns - 2 required per run x 2 runs = 4 @ $100 each - $400
Cat5e - maybe $10 per run
Component Video Cable - 5 required (1 out of 8300 to splitter, then for each run you need 1 out of splitter into balun and 1 out of balun into HDTV = 2 per run x 2 runs = 4, 1 + 4 = 5) 5 Monster Standard THX 1 meter @ 50 each = $250
IR or IR to RF extender = $100 per run (but not for the HDTV that is beside the 8300)

Total Cost for 2 runs = $960 or $480 for each TV and this gives you access to your 8300 from either HDTV and you don't have to wait for the multi-room HD version if SA comes out with it and if it's offered by Rogers (but I will switch to the multi-room HD version when and if it comes out because it allows different viewers to watch different shows. The only problem though is you can't pause live TV - but you can pause recorded programs).

Cost per additional runs above 2 - $200 for baluns, $10 for cat5, $100 for component video cable, $100 for IR extender = $410 per additional HDTV

Time-Warner charges $12.95 USD for the main 8300 MR-PVR and $7.95 USD for each additional set-top box, for the SDTV version, by the way. That's $20.90 USD per month for a 2-HDTV set-up or about $25 CDN or $300 per year (and Rogers will likely charge more). The HD version of this will be likely 25% more at least, so that's about $375 per year in addition to all of the other charges!

So the payback on my arrangement is

Thanks for the info, I'll have Cat-6 running to all rooms in my new place (once we get the walls down and then back up...ugh), so that's an option I'll definately look into. Especially since even the 8300HD-MR model doesn't, at this time, serve HD.

Since I already have an RF-based remote (URC-300), I won't need an IR extender at all, which will be nice. I have more component cables than I know what to do with, and my reciever does component switching as well.

The only downside is being 'stuck' watching the same thing as whoever's watching what on the unit in the main room, but I suspect I can live with that.

Very cool, thanks!

Since most cable TV wiring is homerun and extends into each room, you can also put a combination of 8300HD and 8300HD PVRs around the house. But that was the monthly cost I was trying to avoid, especially for the small HDTV in my bathroom which I only watch while getting ready for work.

With the cost of an extra 8300HD PVR being $25 per month. So, assuming you use my solution for slightly less than 3 years, the incremental cost (over the original cost of the 8300HD PVR) is equal. The downside is you have to watch the same show that everyone else is watching, but you have total control over that show. The upside is that you can watch your recorded programs from an HDTV that has no PVR attached to it. Of course, after 3 years, you've basically paid off the splitter, cables and baluns.

Maybe someone will come out with an HDTV version of the wireless A/V sender with remote extender that The Source has on sale now.

...or you could buy an additional SA8300HD for about $500 and "break even" after 2 years...

But if you rent another 8300HD PVR then you have the problem I was trying to avoid in the first place, which is avoiding having to manage 2 PVRs and always going to both of them to program them, then to erase both programs from both of them. A lot of running around and remembering to record and erase the same set of programs on both.

Also, I plan to triple the storage capacity on my 8300HD PVR. I want to be able to access that from the other HDTV rather than then go buy another external hard disk for the other PVR.

Your solution is great, but not for the problem I posed!

Anyone else notice that a test channel labelled "MRPVR" is immediately after the PVR channel? Does this mean the multiroom is coming soon?

jem, this has been noted for several months now but no word.

Hey all,

Just spotted this thread ... what a fantastic concept! Has there been any more recent news about when Rogers is rolling out this service??

-- Phob

No........

I recently bought a LCD HDTV and hung it on the wall in the bedroom, nice TV but I really wanted to get a HDTV signal pumped into it, only problem is my Family room with the HD8300 is 40 some feet away.

Did some research and found the AV400Comp (www.celabs.net) on Ebay. So I'll split the signal then take one output back into my RPHDTV in the family room then the other to the LCD HDTV.

Actually, I was at Costco and noticed that they use this unit for their HDTVs on display, they have them daisy chained to other AV400s. I also ordered 50ft of Component Video + Audio, I have a bungalow so I'll run it from the HD8300 down through the basement then up through the wall in the bedroom.

Remote control will be through IR Extender. Luckily I have 2 HD8300 remotes.

Not the best solution but now I have a HD on both TVs..

TopShelf