Shaw DCT6412 Information / Questions / Problems

[technut]

Shaw has introduced the Motorola DCT6412. I thought we could use a thread specifically about this model, and I'm starting it off with some links and information that I have gathered recently.

The 6412 is the latest High Definition (HD) Digital Video Recorder (DVR) model in the Motorola 6xxx series of Digital Cable Terminal (DCT).

Main Features:
- Two tuners (vs. single tuner in 6208)
- 120 GB harddrive storage (vs. 80 GB in 6208)
- $748.88 (Shaw's list price, before any credits)

Shaw uses i-Guide software on their DCT boxes, which does support both tuners in the 6412 (as first demonstrated by Comcast in the USA).

Although there has been some discussion about the 6412 in the Cogeco forum, they are using the older Blue Guide software which does not support both of the tuners, and there are other software differences.

Here are some links with 6412 related information...

Shaw Info
HD+PVR Digital Terminal
Shaw HD+PVR User Guide (PDF, 0.5 MB)

Motorola Info
Product Features
Multimedia Demo
FAQs (6412 section)
DCT6400 Series User Guide (PDF, 1.5 MB)
DCT6400 Series Technical Guide / Installation Manual (PDF 1 MB)

i-Guide
TV Guide i-Guide (USA version of i-Guide)
TV Guide 6412 DVR Manual (PDF, 2.4 MB)
Prevue i-Guide (Canadian version of i-Guide)

Comcast related info
Comcast 6412 DVR Manual (PDF, 3.8 MB)
Shaw's implementation should be quite similar to Comcast's rollout of the 6412 in the USA since both are using i-Guide software. I'm adding links to some Comcast-related information since we may learn from their experiences.
(Note: Comcast is testing the Microsoft Guide in the Washington State area, so those experiences will not apply.)
http://www.*************/avs-vb/show...hreadid=464986
http://www.broadband****************...flat~days=9999
http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb...hreadid=210485

Remote Control
Atlas DVR/PVR by Universal Electronics (5 devices)
Support Site
Programming tips

Other
Unofficial FAQ for Motorola HD DCTs (6412 section)


More to come...
(Shawguy, please feel free to edit to add more reference materials, FAQs etc)

[Sith]

Great info Technut. Thank you.

I'm going to try and I stress try...., to hold off on this unit so I don't get hit with the debut price. As with the other previous terminals if you wait a bit you get a better price. Only trouble is the waiting! hahah.

[technut]

Prices for the Motorola DCT6412 from Canadian cable providers:

Access : $750 to buy, $16/month to rent
Cogeco : $800 to buy, $20/month to rent
Shaw : $750 to buy, no rental option

Note: Cogeco and Access currently have only one of the two tuners enabled.

And for comparison purposes, here are recent DCT6208 prices:

Aurora : no option to buy, $20/month to rent
Cogeco : $699 to buy, $20/month to rent
EastLink : no option to buy, $15/month to rent
Mountain : $700 to buy, no rental option
Rogers : $700 to buy, $20/month to rent
Shaw : $500 to buy, no rental option

[painter]

I also would like to say great info technut thanks I,m from Regina and subscribe to Access cable and I'am looking forward to getting the Iguide here instead of using the blue like we are now. So this is a chance to see what we are going to be getting. I,ve also been watching the comcast iguide forum on avs and learning alot about it there, the ups and downs as such. The 6412 that I have also runs very quietly can bearly even hear it.

[technut]

From the TV Guide 6412 DVR Manual (PDF, 2.4 MB), some of the advantages of two tuners:

SWAP Between Two Programs

Because your DVR has two tuners, it can buffer two programs at the same time – one on each tuner. The SWAP feature lets you toggle back and forth between the two live shows while giving you full control of both.
While you are tuned to a program, press the SWAP button on your remote.
• You will change tuners. Now you can select an alternate program by changing channels or using the Guide.
• Press SWAP again to toggle between the two programs.
Note: The SWAP button is the key to keeping the buffer for both programs. If you change channels without using the SWAP key, you will lose the buffer.

Record Two Programs at Once

The Dual Tuner DVR allows you to set recordings for two different programs that air at the same time. While recording two programs, you can watch and control either program up to the point of live TV by using the SWAP button on your remote. There are several ways to record two programs at once.
Here are two basic examples:

While Watching a Show:
• Press Record to record the program you are watching.
• Press SWAP to switch to the other tuner and find the second program you want to record.
• Press Record when you locate the second program you want to record.

From the Guide:
• Highlight a program you want to record from any listings screen.
• Press Record to set up the first recording
• Highlight the second program.
• Press Record to set up the second recording.

Your DVR has two tuners so that you can, 1) record two channels at the same time, 2) record one and watch the other or 3) record two channels and watch a 3rd program from your DVR recordings library.

[technut]

From the TV Guide 6412 DVR Manual (PDF, 2.4 MB), an i-Guide feature for recording a Series of shows:

Record a Series
Your Dual Tuner DVR lets you record multiple episodes of a program
according to your preferences. You can set the DVR to record only
new (first run) episodes, first run episodes and repeats or all
episodes.
When you set a recording from a Series Program Information screen,
you’ll have an additional icon on the preceding Recordings Overlay.
Choose this Create a Series Recording Icon to specify your series
recording options.
• Select the episode type to record, such as first run only, first run
and repeats or all episodes.
• Specify how many recording to save.
• Specify how long to save the recording – until you erase it or
until space is needed.
• To access advanced series setup features like add minutes to the
start and end times and specify which channels to record, select
the Setup Icon to review all options.
Your series recordings’ will appear in your My Recordings list with
the show title as its label. Multiple recordings of the same show will
have the same label and will be listed beginning with the most
recent recordings first as default.To change your view, use the (arrow
left/right) buttons on your remote to View by Date,View by Channel
or View by Title.

Managing Scheduling Conflicts
If you schedule more than two recordings for the same time, you
will see a Scheduling Conflict screen that allows you to choose
between a previously set recording and the new recording that
is conflicting. Individual recordings always take priority over
series recordings when there are scheduling conflicts.
In case of a scheduling conflict between two series programs,
additional icons will appear at the bottom of the Scheduling
Conflict screen to help you determine which program to record.
- Return to the previous screen.
- Record highlighted series as shown above.
- Show conflicts when the new series is a high priority.
- Show conflicts when the new series is a low priority.
- Don’t record this series.
• To give your new recording the highest scheduling priority and
to capture the most number of episodes for your new recording,
select High. The screen will show you how many episodes of the
new series will be recorded and which episodes of the old series
will not be recorded because of the conflict.
• To move the new series back to the bottom of the scheduling
priority list, select Low and the screen will refresh and give you
revised results.
• Select the Record Icon to confirm your new settings.
You may also modify the priority assigned to a series using the Series Priority List.

Modify the Series Priority List
To help you manage which series get recorded when there are
scheduling conflicts, your DVR automatically creates a Series Priority List.
The first series you set to record has the highest priority and is the
program recorded in case of a conflict. If there are no conflicts, each
additional series you set to record is added to the bottom of the list. You
can easily change the recording priority of the programs so that the
programs of your choice are recorded in case of a conflict.
• Select DVR from the Main Menu or Quick Menu.
• Choose Series Priority.
• Highlight a program and use the Page +/- buttons on your remote
to modify its priorities.
Note: If you want to record two series recordings instead of an individual
recording that airs at the same time, you must delete the individual recording
from the Scheduled Recordings List.

[technut]

Some tips and quotes from users of the 6412 on other cable systems:

Noise Levels:
"Just wanted to report back that this box is dead quiet compared to the 6208. Doesn't seem to be a fan in it unless they put in ultra quiet ones."

Playback controls:
"When viewing a program the > is forward, ^ is play/pause, < is reverse, and the bottom button is 'live'. I find these buttons much more convenient than the identified transport controls" (with updates from the TV Guide manual & Felgar)

No RF output:
Unlike the 6208, the 6412 does not have an RF (coaxial cable) output. If you have a requirement for this you'll have to add an RF modulator to your setup.

[Gravy]

Thank you in advance. I run a 46" Samsung DLP through DVI for reference.

1) I have a non HD SHAW box that uses the new menu system and love how fast the menu scrolls through the channels. There is virtually no delay at all if channeling up from 5 to 6 or from 11 - 12- 13. The 6208 had about a 3 second delay between channels. I returned the 6208 because of this. Has SHAW fixed that issue with the new 6412?

2) The 6208 would change the analog signal to a digital signal in the box. Please tell me that Motorola and SHAW have set this new box up so that it leaves the analog signal alone. Standard Definition through S-Video on my DLP is GOOD. Standard Definition through the HD box via DVI is brutal.

3) Since the signal from Star Choice is digital from the source, Standard Definition would remain really good through their HD box via DVI. I'm not sure if I should keep waitng for the Star Choice HD PVR or go back to SHAW with this new and hopefully improved 6412..... anyone?

[idearat]

I haven't owned either, but my guess is that 1) and 2) are both due to the box recording everything, so it has to digitize everything. This may be the cause for the channel change delay, and is almost certainly the cause of the lousy analogue SD. I'd guess the 6412 works exactly the same way.

[technut]

Talked to A&B Sound and Shaw today. It is my understanding that both have the 6412 in stock in Vancouver now. And another user posted that Visions also has stock, and $50 off coupon. And someone else posted that A&B Sound price-matched the $50 off price.

Unfortunately I'm in Victoria and nobody has it here yet, to my knowledge.

[PokerChip]

Is the 6208 eligible??? 6200 is there.

The form says Other DCT (Specify). How much would a 6208 be worth?

[luckster]

Technut, thanks for the solution, I don't know how I missed that.

[GrBell]

Originally Posted by luckster

Technut, thanks for the solution, I don't know how I missed that.

It is easier if you have a Harmony remote.
Device -> PVR -> Mute
and you are back to normal

[Felgar]

I've had a few hours to play with my 6412 and I thought I'd share some of my findings.

1) There is no delay on digital and HD channels when viewing with a 6412 compared to a non-PVR unit. I tested this against my 5100 just before I disconnected the 5100 for the buy-back.

2) The person at the Shaw Retail Center where I took the 5100 for the buy-back said that they stopped doing the buy-back about 2 months ago. When I explained that the CSR had told me there would be no problems 2 weeks ago and also last night, they did it anyways. My recommendation for anyone thinking of the buy-back is to talk to a CSR and then get their Name, ID, or even a note put on your account that you'll be bringing in your unit soon. Btw, Shaw never even asked where I bought my 5100 (it was at Future Shop) so that doesn't seem to make a difference. And also, the credits are applied to your account; no need to actually buy the 6412 from Shaw directly.

3) Don't pay 750 for a box. The Visions web coupon will get you $50 off with no hassle, and Soundsaround actually has them tagged on sale for 700 as well. I'm sure any other retailer would drop down to $700 no problem (except Shaw who still wants 750).

4) I couldn't get any credits when I called to activate - I guess it's hit and miss for that.

5) The down arrow on the playback control circle actually mimics the 'live' button, not 'stop' as indicated earlier in the thread.

*** 6) The most pleasant surprise so far is that if you're half-way through watching a live program and tell the box to record it, it will save the program from the beginning (or from the earliest point that your live buffer has recorded.)

That's it for now. If anyone has more questions fire away.

[meshmellow]

I have some questions about making backups to a DVD recorder (with hard drive). This would of course be the same situation as recording to a VCR connected to the DCT6412.

I assume I could record on my Pioneer DVD machine (using the DCT's tuner) while watching something, the same as I currently can with my DCT6200. I'll also assume that I could set for a timed recording on the 6412 and have it record simultaneously on both the Pioneer DVR and the 6412.

Now, here's where I think it could get tricky. What if I'm recording something on the 6412 and watching something else with its second tuner? Which signal would pass through to the Pioneer DVR? I suspect the one I'm watching (even if the other was a timed recording).

Suppose I set two timed recordings on the 6412, I wonder which one would pass through to the Pioneer DVR. The one that starts first? The one which happens to record on Tuner A? I might be out and not watching either at the time.

I know you are supposed to be able to record to a VCR or DVR while playing back a 6412 recording. I would like to assume that the quality of the "copied" program would be as good as if I recorded directly to the Pioneer DVR as I have been doing. (Those recordings look as good as the original telecasts.)

I suspect there will be other people wanting to make permanent backups (on videotape or DVDs) the same as I do, so I won't be the only one needing answers to these questions.

meshmellow