New Firmware / (HD) IPG for 8642, 4642 Discussions - Read Post 1 and Links There

[PBC]

They all got wiped. But it's worth it. Watching cable is no longer extremely frustrating.

[mobilemedia]

So many complaints and so little response from Rogers. The marketing campaign states all the cool things you can do with Nextbox. But they do not show anyone changing channels or any other new features. That's because the 8642 PVR sucks.

I've had this piece of crap for several months now. I do not see any changes to my satisfaction. The programmer for the 8642 should be fired and hire a monkey to do it. At least we know if will be simple!

I really would like to switch to Bell Fibe but I'll lose my rogers email addresses that's the only thing holding me back.

Wake up Rogers people are tired of your bull commercials and your lack of response to our needs. Would love to throw my 8642 out my 15 storey window

[TL_Gator]

Originally Posted by PBC

The fact that you can no longer override the incoming signal (eg leave 480i as 480i instead of the box up converting is ridiculous).

Exactly. Rogers shouldnt have taken away the option to output the native signal resolution. If you have a good quality external video processor, many now have AVRs with quality chips (such as the HQV Vida) or separate vp like dvdo, and its now pointless since the rogers box does most of the work now. Or maybe even your TV does a better job than the rogers box but now you no longer have that ability.

Besides not being able to output 480i for SD channels because you can only select one output resolution and you're most likely set at 720p/1080i, I have a major issue with 720p channels being converted to 1080i by the box only for your TV or external VP to make it progressive again - what a mess. And if you set it to ouptut 720p, then for most HD channels (1080i) the rogers box is doing the deinterlacing.. you cant win.

I'm hoping to find a solution to this.

[57]

There will be no "solution" to this. I believe any STB that has an HD interface (IPG) has a fixed output format (Bell Satellite for example). If the format were not fixed, the IPG would look different in the different output formats, which people would complain about, or would require additional processing, which the STB is not capable of without further slowdowns or function issues.

[TL_Gator]

I understand what it does to the IPG when you would switch resolution.. but they could have let it as an option (like it was before this fw update), and I agree that most people would simply select the best resolution for their hdtv, either 720p or 1080i, but at least those who prefer to output the native resolution (and understand the 'side effects' of doing so) could still do so.

What about bell fibe - can you output native res from their box, is it different than bell satellite?

[PBC]

Not following 57, why would the ability be there in the older firmware and it doesn't impact the ending UI to the user for the IPG?

Isn't that more of a coding weakness in the software? E.g., most websites look the same regardless of the resolution one uses or even the browser (firefox vs chrome vs IE, etc). For the ones that do, it's usually due to the fact that they simply haven't modified the code properly (or at all) that renders the pages.

[57]

why would the ability be there in the older firmware and it doesn't impact the ending UI to the user for the IPG?

But it does. If you have your TV set to stretch SD signals (480i) and leave 1080i channels unstretched the IPG fills the 16:9 screen when stretched/SD/480i and doesn't when unstretched and HD/1080i/720P (it's 4:3). Most TVs default to this mode of operation, although it is possible to have 4:3 show as 4:3 by unstretching.

With an HD IPG you need to ensure that it displays properly all the time and it would need "manipulation" by the STB to show properly for SD (480i) output (and may not be legible). Much easier and simply to output an HD signal only and that way the TV shows the proper IPG if the TV is showing the correct HD picture (without stretching or zooming).

[stever]

I have 2, 8642's (with the new IPG)and one of them has a problem with constant reboots. There seems to be a pattern:

-every night at 10:00 sharp it reboots
-if I select a 'live' program to watch while 2 others are being recorded it comes up with the scheduling conflict GUI, if I select one recorded program to stop it will re-boot.

2 questions.

How can I see what firmware is on each box?
Has anyone else seen these problems?

[TL_Gator]

I don't care much for the IPG looking 'good' all the time - I care more about having the best picture possible with my equipment. You look at the IPG for a few minutes to select what to watch, but you watch a channel for 1-2 hrs or more. So what's more important, having a nice IPG for a few minutes or having the best possible picture quality available while you watch for hours.

Rogers needs to bring back the option to output native resolution (480i, 720p and 1080i), for those who want it. If you don't want your tv to change resolution everytime you switch to a different channel format, or you don't want your IPG to be non-hd, then you just keeping doing what you're doing (outputting everything as 1080i or 720p). That way everyone is happy.

Don't bring a new fw and take AWAY options from the end user. I'm sure those boxes don't have the best chips compared to a quality AVR or TV, or external video processor. Someone please correct if I'm wrong.

I know this is a non-issue for most users, but I also know that some people are very upset with Rogers for removing this option. If you have a big screen and you're watching from close, and have good vp equipment, Rogers just made your high end equipment useless for when you're watching tv.

[lucretius]

I "downgraded" to the old IPG, mainly because of the "pass-through" option. Also, I hated the new IPG because it overscanned on my tv so the first letter on the left was cut-off (which usually was the first digit in the channel number). I also hated the way SD was processed by the PVR -- usually overscanned (cutting off a little on the edges). And my tv could not resize the upscaled signal from the PVR and the resizing options available via the # key are atrocious.

When the day comes when all programs are in proper HDTV format, this will all be moot. But until that day ...

Originally Posted by TL_Gator

I don't care much for the IPG looking 'good' all the time - I care more about having the best picture possible with my equipment. You look at the IPG for a few minutes to select what to watch, but you watch a channel for 1-2 hrs or more. So what's more important, having a nice IPG for a few minutes or having the best possible picture quality available while you watch for hours.

Rogers needs to bring back the option to output native resolution (480i, 720p and 1080i), for those who want it. If you don't want your tv to change resolution everytime you switch to a different channel format, or you don't want your IPG to be non-hd, then you just keeping doing what you're doing (outputting everything as 1080i or 720p). That way everyone is happy.

Don't bring a new fw and take AWAY options from the end user. I'm sure those boxes don't have the best chips compared to a quality AVR or TV, or external video processor. Someone please correct if I'm wrong.

I know this is a non-issue for most users, but I also know that some people are very upset with Rogers for removing this option. If you have a big screen and you're watching from close, and have good vp equipment, Rogers just made your high end equipment useless for when you're watching tv.

[TL_Gator]

I might do the same at this point.. Does anyone know if Rogers will force everyone over to the new IPG at some point? When? If so, switching over to the old guide is only a temporary solution unfortunately.

[MattyG]

I just found another glitch with the new IPG.

I am currently recording one program and was just scanning channels and found a 1 hour program which is 20 minutes in which I would like to record the remaining 40 minutes. When I pressed the REC button a small bar reading 'scheduling' popped up and then disappeared. But, the program is not recording.

I attempted to set a program starting at the next 30 minute mark to record and it set with no problem.

So, therefore, you can only set programs to record before the fact. If you try to record something which is already playing it won't work.

I assume that it has something to do with the fact that I'm also recording something else. The other day I started recording a show mid-program with no problem.

[viper359]

MattyG: Reboot your box, that should solve the problem. Sounds like on of those one off glitches that happen with no real rhyme or reason.

[MarkyMarc43]

So, I have the new box. Nice mostly.

I set it to power on to channel 518 (morning news mostly, afternoon news after worK)
That was working fine. Then last night I decided since the Guide always starts on Channel 1, I would hide the channels below 517 since I never watch any SD.

I did keep 50 as Space is an old fave.

Oddly (after hours of hiding channels) the TV powers on to 50 now instead of 518 as instructed.

Unhid (more time) channels and now it powers on to 7.

Solutions anyone?

Thanks!

(would be nice if there was a Hide all SD)

[57]

Did you reset the power-on channel to 518 again? Try a reboot?

http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=17719

Useful Post: http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=57741