Thought I'd post a quick primer on how to read Motorola DCT model number/option codes. My apologies if this is old news.

In this post, I will only deal with the DVR line of boxes: The DCT6208, 6412, 6416 and 3412.

DCT62XX
======
The format for the DCT62XX model number is as follows:
DCT62XX/YYYY
Where:
• DCT62XX indicates base configuration / standard features listed below.
• XX indicates the size of the optional factory installed internal HDD, as detailed below. If XX is 00, then the unit is PVR ready and DOES NOT have an internal hard disk drive. If XX is 08, then the unit has an internal 80 GB hard disk drive.
• YYYY represents a 4-digit designator indicating the options configuration. The YYYY in the model number descriptor follows the following scheme:
o 10YY series includes standard external module only
o 11YY series includes A/B switch
o 12YY series includes RF Bypass
o 2YYY series includes 128 MB of System DRAM

The options currently in circulation include:
1000 - Base model PVR (or PVR ready in the case of a 6200).
1100 - Base model + A/B switch.
1200 - Base model + RF Bypass.
2000 - 128 MB SDRAM PVR (or PVR ready in the case of a 6200).
2005 - 128 MB SDRAM w/Comcast logo.
2006 - 128 MB SDRAM w/Verizon logo (6200 only).
9999 - Developer box.

DCT62XX HDD options:
6200 - PVR Ready (supports external HDD).
6208 - 80 GB.
6212 - 120 GB. (NOTE: To my knowledge, this box has never been released).

DCT62XX Standard Features:
• 800 MIPS CPU
• 16MB flash
• 3 USB (one on front panel, 2 on rear panel)
• 10/100 Base-T Ethernet port (RJ 45)
• L/R audio and video in (both front and rear panels)
• Smart Card
• 12 button front panel, LED
• IR receiver
• S-Video
• Electrical SPDIF
• Optical SPDIF (Toslink)
• YPbPr component output
• IR blaster port
• Baseband audio / video out
• TVPASS renewable security connector
• Integrated Analog to MPEG Encoder
• Digital Visual Interface (DVI) output
• Dual 1394 (DTV, external hard disk drive)

DCT64XX
======
The format for the DCT64XX model number is as follows:
DCT64XX/YYYY
Where:
• DCT64XX indicates base configuration / standard features listed below.
• XX indicates the size of the factory installed internal HDD, as detailed below. If XX is 12, then the unit has an internal 120 GB hard disk drive. If XX is 16, then the unit has an internal 160 GB hard disk drive.
• YYYY represents a 4-digit designator indicating the options configuration. The YYYY in the model number descriptor follows the following scheme:
o The first digit “2” in 2YYY indicates the memory configuration of 16MB flash and 128MB System RAM
o 20YY series includes standard external module, only
o 23YY series includes standard external module and remod output option

The options currently in circulation include:
2000 - Base model - 128 MB System RAM, 16 MB Flash.
2005 - Base model with Comcast logo.
2006 - Base model with Verizon logo.
2300 - Base model - 128 MB System RAM, 16 MB Flash and remod output.
2305 - Base model with Comcast logo and remod output.
9999 - Developer.

DCT64XX HDD options:
6412 - 120 GB.
6416 - 160 GB.

DCT64XX Standard Features (Base model):
DCT64XX Phases 0, 0.5, 1, 2, 2.3
• Dual video plus DOCSIS tuners
• DVI and 1394 (2 - DTV, external hard disk drive)
• Dual analog to MPEG encoder
• 16MB flash, 128MB System RAM
• 2 USB (one on front panel, one on rear panel)
• 10/100 Base-T Ethernet port (RJ 45)
• L/R audio and video in (both front and rear panels)
• Smart card
• 12 button front panel, LED
• IR receiver
• S-Video Output
• Optical and Electrical SPDIF
• YPbPr component output
• IR blaster port
• Baseband audio / video out
• TVPASS renewable security connector
• Internal hard disk drive
• DOCSIS integrated Cable Modem
DCT64XX Phase 3
• Dual video plus DOCSIS tuners
• DVI/HDMI
• 1394 (2 - DTV, external hard disk drive)
• Dual analog to MPEG encoder
• 16MB flash, 128MB System RAM
• 2 USB (one on front panel, one on rear panel)
• 10/100 Base-T Ethernet port (RJ 45)
• L/R audio and video in (both front and rear panels)
• Smart card
• 12 button front panel, LED
• IR receiver
• S-Video Output
• Optical and Electrical SPDIF
• YPbPr component output
• IR blaster port
• Baseband audio / video out
• TVPASS renewable security connector
• Internal hard disk drive
• DOCSIS 2.0 integrated Cable Modem

DCT34XX
======
The format for the DCT34XX model number is as follows:
DCT34XX/YYYY
Where:
• DCT34XX indicates base configuration / standard features listed below.
• XX indicates the size of the factory installed internal HDD. If XX is 12, then the unit has an internal 120 GB hard disk drive. If XX is 16, then the unit has an internal 160 GB hard disk drive.
• YYYY represents a 4-digit designator indicating the options configuration as listed below. The YYYY in the model number descriptor follows the following scheme:
o The first digit "2" in 2YYY indicates the memory configuration of 16MB flash and 128MB System RAM
o 20YY series includes standard external module, only
o 23YY series includes standard external module and remod output option


The options currently in circulation include:
2000 - Base model - 128MB Sytem RAM, 16MB Flash.
2005 - Base model with Comcast logo.
2300 - Base model - 128MB Sytem RAM, 16MB Flash and remod output.
2305 - Base model with Comcast logo and remod output.
9999 - Developer.

DCT34XX HDD Options:
3412 - 120 GB
3416 - 160 GB

DCT34XX Standard features:
• Dual digital video plus DOCSIS tuners
• DVI/HDMI
• Serial ATA interface
• 1394 (2 - DTV, external hard disk drive)
• 16MB flash, 128MB System RAM
• 1 USB 2.0 (on rear panel)
• 10/100 Base-T Ethernet port (RJ 45)
• 12 button front panel, LED
• IR receiver
• S-Video Output
• Optical and Electrical SPDIF
• YPbPr component output
• IR blaster port
• Baseband audio / video out
• TVPASS renewable security connector
• Internal hard disk drive
• DOCSIS 2.0 integrated Cable Modem

I appreciate this kind of information and your software/firmware info too; it's hard to come by otherwise. Thanks for this and your other informative posts, and welcome to DHC!

Nice post and thanks.

I've "stickied it" for all to see.

Wonderful, thanks!

I'm curious about this part:

• XX indicates the size of the optional factory installed internal HDD, as detailed below. If XX is 00, then the unit is PVR ready and DOES NOT have
an internal hard disk drive.

Can someone point me in the direction of a how-to thread about adding my own HDD?

• XX indicates the size of the optional factory installed internal HDD, as detailed below. If XX is 00, then the unit is PVR ready and DOES NOT have an internal hard disk drive.

Can someone point me in the direction of a how-to thread about adding my own HDD?

This applies solely to the DCT6200 which is a PVR ready set-top box but has no built-in HDD. In theory, it is quite easy; you simply plug an external firewire drive into the FW or USB port on the back of the set-top box. In practice, however, it's infinitely more complicated.

In all probability, your MSO will have the FW and/or USB ports disabled. If they don't, then the next obstacle is the Firmware/Software loaded on the box. You must have a version of iGuide or Aptiv (Passport) that supports DVR functionality. Further, you must have a version of the firmware that supports external HDDs.

Lastly, just as the firewire and USB ports require a Resource Authorisation from the headend, so does the PVR functionality (assuming that the MSO is using Resource Authorisation objects). Chances are that your DCT6200 has been added to the headend without PVR service enable.

But if you happen to have a FW or USB drive handy, try plugging it in. You just might get lucky.

A good indicator would be to plug in your drive then launch the set-top's OSD and go to menu 14 - Hard Disk Drive Status. For the 'TYPE' field, you should see '1394' or 'USB'. You can also check menu 13 - PVR Status to see if PVR functionality is enabled.

I connected my 300GB HP Media Drive to the front USB (V1.1) port on the Motorola DCT6200. There appeared to be no change (updated information) in the diagnostics page(s) indicating a hard drive. The HP Media Drive is USB (V2.0) would this matter? Also, what if I purchase a USB to firewire (6p) cable, what is probability that this would work? In case it matters, Shaw Cable here in Edmonton is the service provider.
Given my setup this would be ideal, my Media Center PC is located approximately 30-40 feet away in different room and I'd have to get a 30ft firewire cable plus DVI/HDMI/Component plus digital audio to make the connections to the DCT, PC, and HDTV
Any alternate suggestions or ???

Not gonna work. The Shaw DCTs don't support any external hard drives, no matter how you connect them.

technut is correct. Motorola still hasn't released a TCL that supports external drives yet. It is in the works, however.

I'm wondering what info you have on the DCH models that are due to be deployed in the USA starting July 1st.

I know that the top model is going to be the DCH6416, but I was curious to know if there was any chance they might work up here in Canada as well?

I'm wondering what info you have on the DCH models that are due to be deployed in the USA starting July 1st.

I know that the top model is going to be the DCH6416, but I was curious to know if there was any chance they might work up here in Canada as well?

The DCH line of set-tops are essentially DCT's with the internal security modules removed. Instead, they use a CableCARD. So they won't work on Shaw's (or any other Canadian MSO) headend as they are now. The DCH's use a completely different set of firmware from the DCT64xx line.

I did get to play with some DCH set-tops for a while but I've changed jobs so I'm not quite as "inside" in the set-top box world as I used to be. They were ok (quite boxy in design) but not really any more capable than the DCTs. But these were pre-production models so who knows where the firmware/software is now.

Quote:
"technut is correct. Motorola still hasn't released a TCL that supports external drives yet. It is in the works, however."

Has anyone tried to add an internal hard drive to the DCT6200?

I'm guessing the DCT6200 might have exactly the same firmware as the 6208 and that the only difference between the 2 models is that there isn't a hard drive plugged in the box for the 6200.
I might be wrong though. Also, if possible, I guess the drive would have to be initialized with some folder structure or god knows what.

Is is worth trying or should I start saving to get a new box?

The ide port isn't physically there for the 6200's. So there is no way to add a drive to these units.

Quote:
Has anyone tried to add an internal hard drive to the DCT6200?

I'm guessing the DCT6200 might have exactly the same firmware as the 6208 and that the only difference between the 2 models is that there isn't a hard drive plugged in the box for the 6200.


Lorca is correct. The DCT6200 doesn't contain any of the internal IDE connectors to allow you to add a HDD. It was always intended as a "PVR-Ready" box and as a client box for Motorola's home network system (where you could have a bunch of satellite set-tops networked to your main DCT64xx PVR throughout the home).

So I have a Motorola 6200-1000, It has all the AV inputs and the A/B button on the front of the unit but the inputs are disabled in the menu. Any Ideas on how to enable the inputs as I have 2 Sat receivers that only have RCA outputs and they look like crap on my new TV???

What is the difference between the 3416 and 6416? Futureshop has them both for the same price. It looks like the 6416 has more features?

The 64xx series have an analog tuner, where as the 34xx are 'all digital'. There's no difference in terms of features.
The 34xx series are newer than the 64xx, but in terms of PQ you shouldn't see any difference.

So I have a Motorola 6200-1000, It has all the AV inputs and the A/B button on the front of the unit but the inputs are disabled in the menu. Any Ideas on how to enable the inputs as I have 2 Sat receivers that only have RCA outputs and they look like crap on my new TV???
Shaw does not 'support' the 'external input options' on any of their STBs. If you are having issues with not having enough inputs on your TV, I would suggest you look into either a video switcher or an A/V Reciever to do the switching between sources.

I have the DCT 3416 I (label on front at top left)

I was told there are newer ones that end in "III" rather than just "I". Can anyone confirm and list any differences.

Phase III units are only for the DCT6400 series. DCT3400 series are all phase I.
The 3400 series was a new line of units, where as the 6400 previously came in phase I and II (dvi units).

Hi folks , just a quick question. The Motorola dct3416 is "all digital" (tuner?) I have a Pace tdc770d in another room, can I use both ?
The Pace works, tried activation on the 3416 last weekend without success. Now I'm not sure if our local cable supports both or have I done something wrong? Followed the manual.
Thanks for your help.