New Firmware / (HD) IPG for 8642, 4642 Discussions - Read Post 1 and Links There - Page 68 - Canadian TV, Computing and Home Theatre Forums

neilpalmer400 · 2012-06-12, 05:10 AM

Well, I agree with viper359 that Cisco are a sick joke when it comes to firmware on other products, like the Linksys E4200 V1 Broadband/Wireless Router I have (for which they had to nerve to charge almost $200). Every new release of firmware for that (which comes out FAR too infrequently) seems to break something else that used to work before. Strangely the most stable version they had was 1.00 and many users have downgraded back to it.
So if that is any indication of the quality of the code they put out you wonder what they'll break when they eventually do release a new version of the firmware/software for the RTN guide (which, from what I heard from some Rogers techs, if you can believe that, should be around a month away).

As for Rogers - well they certainly have to share the blame for this fiasco, whether they are modifying the code themselves, or simply incompetent when it comes to testing it. They are FAR from perfect in many ways. Witness the mess with forcing DOCSIS 3.0 cable modems, at a higher monthly rental charge, on customers who want the same bandwidth and monthly usage caps at the same price new customers are getting, but are being forced to pay more for a piece of c**p SMC Wireless Modem/Router combo (they refuse to support or provide a stand-alone DOCSIS 3.0 modem). And don't get me started on their Internet usage numbers. If you believe the numbers they use to bill you then with no changes at home my monthly Internet usage has somehow doubled from around 31GB to over 62GB for the last two months.

proxy99 · 2012-06-13, 02:42 AM

Frankly I fail to believe it's only testing that is done on site... It's the implementation that decides all. Keep in mind that cable companies may request from Cisco custom software versions, what is actually the case. Just read about US PVR experiences. You can install windows and using policy editor set permissions that it would be a joke. Same with managing networks like cable TV. Few years ago I recall a slew of SARA upgrades, when from week to week you could see PVR functionality/behavior changes... and frequent reboots. The result as far as I recall was a modification that disabled IPG viewing while recording 2 programs at the same time. There was more (like interface changes), but time has passed and I won't be able to name more. This I remember though, as it stayed with us. You press "guide" while recording 2 programs and... no guide comes up, just a list of recordings with a choice to cancel one or both. It wasn't the case before. It seems to me that in order to conserve bandwidth or whatever resources they (Rogers) blocked/modded certain functions. Was it the same time the internet cap was introduced (?) don't recall, but you draw your own conclusions. Good thing is that Cisco/Rogers team in all its wisdom has not killed SARA or crippled it to a degree that would make PVR's a distant memory... Since there are diff. SARA ver. on diff. markets plus other op. system flavors I strongly believe that cable operators have more say in that respect then they are willing to admit. Blaming it all on Cisco looks like a perfect excuse, almost like vis major... sounds very improbable to me.

proxy99 · 2012-06-15, 02:37 AM

Well it looks that SARA has become the default FW choice for NextBox and RTN (new IPG) in initialized on demand (unless tech supp/sales makes that choice for you). Until now it was automatic. How long it will stay this way remains to be seen but this is significant. It seems that RTN has not been received as enthusiastically is initially anticipated. Hopefully it gives Rogers some room to work out all issues that have arisen from the inception.

alebowgm · 2012-06-15, 08:59 AM

Where do you get that information from?

yyzlhr · 2012-06-15, 01:12 PM

SARA is not the default option. Reps are still required to add the RTN IPG code to every order where a 4642/8642 is added to the account. The order must be confirmed before the rep can go back in and remove the RTN code. However, existing customers who have a 4642/8642 who did not receive RTN during the original roll out will not receive it unless they request it.

proxy99 · 2012-06-15, 10:36 PM

I was informed by a rep that when a box is added RTN has to be enabled manually, as I said up to this moment it was automatic. The change has been implemented recently. I was told that RTN is enabled only when customers request it. Whether the reps get instruction to enable it for all new installations remains to be seen, but it seems that they'll at least be asking about that. With other words if they just put the box in the customers acct. it will be SARA operated. That is the version I got. This change has been a result of too many complaints from customers. The fact that Rogers has disassociated box addition and RTN by creating a manual option to add it is quite interesting anyway.

yyzlhr · 2012-06-16, 01:00 AM

It is still automatic for anyone who adds a Cisco 4642/8642. This is system enforced. Customers need to opt out of RTN if they don't want it when adding a new 8642/4642. Existing customers who already have an 8642/4642 without RTN are unaffected. There have been no changes as to how customers get RTN since the rollout started. Customers who plan on adding a 4642/8642 going forward need to opt out of RTN if they want it as the addition of the RTN code is SYSTEM ENFORCED.

grampagord · 2012-06-16, 09:28 AM

I'm obviously a little out of date on my acronyms.

RTN is the new firmware/IPG & SARA is the old?

yyzlhr · 2012-06-18, 01:21 AM

Exactly, RTN is new SARA is the old.

yyzlhr · 2012-06-20, 03:47 AM

So, I'm up late once again finishing up some work and my 8642 has rebooted but this time its doing some lengthy countdown sequence. Hopefully, Rogers is finally pushing a new firmware version. Will update soon.

EDIT:

So yep, it was a new firmware update and once again it's one step forward and one step back.

Things that have improved:
-Pressing 'D' when the weather app is open will actually close the weather app
-No more useless translucent rectangle at the bottom when the menu is open
-Text in guide is more legible, overall guide appearance is a bit more modern
-Nice animation when conducting a search
-Info bar pops up much faster when you hit the info button (However the mini info bar pops up first for some reason. Not sure if this is a bug or if Rogers purposely designed it this way)
-Pressing the Ok button during a recording will bring up the mini info bar that actually displays legible information, the text no longer overlaps each other
-When scheduling a recording in the search app, the dialog box appears in the right spot
-System feels much more responsive EXCEPT FOR GUIDE SCROLLING

Things that have gotten worse:
-Guide scrolling has become UNUSABLE again. They finally made the guide scrolling snappy enough in the last firmware and now its back where it was when it first came in fact I think it might actually be WORSE! This is just so horrible, IMO it negates all the other improvements.
-When playing back a recorded program the progress bar now takes up more room which is totally unnecesary

Things that are still not fixed/missing:
-Zoom levels are still useless
-Pressing * while in the search app will not exit the search app
-No ability to search the PVR even though the 8300 has the exact same search app and has this ability
-No ability to search by genre without typing in the genre in the search menu
-Probably doesn't have TV call display, but I don't have Rogers home phone so i can't confirm
-No ability to skip forward or backwards in 10 minute increments
-No slow motion

I still can't believe it took this long to create such a mediocre update. Rogers/Cisco just do not get it.

viper359 · 2012-06-20, 05:52 AM

Yup, I got the update last night too it appears, just now playing with it, but I echo almost all your statements above me. I knew immediately that there was an update. I turned on my system, hit guide, and nothing happened for a good 30 seconds. URRRRRG.

I do hope it was a one off, I am not going through that hell again with the guide. I will test my Whole Home setup and see if they buggered that, which for me was working awesome. Responsive, quick, no playback issues etc.

bbtfastback · 2012-06-20, 11:54 AM

The one thing that annoys me the most is the fact that we have to manually choose all the channels we don't want to view, especially those that we are unsubscribed to. This should be automatic.

Looking for something with a gui that the wife can use, and where we can access hockey games, and good bye Rogers...this isn't worth $50+/month.

ryandude_12345 · 2012-06-20, 03:23 PM

I really want the numbers that are displayed on the TV when we are inputting a channel to be changed... It seriously looks ugly and unprofessional!

Cookie000 · 2012-06-20, 04:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by yyzlhr

So, I'm up late once again finishing up some work and my 8642 has rebooted but this time its doing some lengthy countdown sequence. Hopefully, Rogers is finally pushing a new firmware version. Will update soon.

Firmware is dated May 14 (3.0.0.1620)

Zoom is still as useless as ever on this firmware

viper359 · 2012-06-20, 05:07 PM

I will do a full recap of this firmware update, like the last one I did, once I play with it some more, and get a few responses on here as well. One thing I did notice, after the guide being sluggish to popup when pushed, I did a hard reboot, and now it seems to be somewhat snappy again.

Scrolling down the guide on what is visible is snappy, but, going down past what is visible, or doing pages at a time, slower than before. Not horrid, but not what they finally managed to get it to.

Not sure if its just me or not, but On Demand seems much faster to load, and even programs load up quicker. However, Fast Forward is super slow to respond on on demand programs.

Playback on recorded content I haven't got a chance to check.

I hope Rogers takes the summer to get this fixed right, and working proper for the fall schedule.

2012-06-12, 05:10 AM	#1006
neilpalmer400 Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Waterloo ON Posts: 69	The Blame Game Well, I agree with viper359 that Cisco are a sick joke when it comes to firmware on other products, like the Linksys E4200 V1 Broadband/Wireless Router I have (for which they had to nerve to charge almost $200). Every new release of firmware for that (which comes out FAR too infrequently) seems to break something else that used to work before. Strangely the most stable version they had was 1.00 and many users have downgraded back to it. So if that is any indication of the quality of the code they put out you wonder what they'll break when they eventually do release a new version of the firmware/software for the RTN guide (which, from what I heard from some Rogers techs, if you can believe that, should be around a month away). As for Rogers - well they certainly have to share the blame for this fiasco, whether they are modifying the code themselves, or simply incompetent when it comes to testing it. They are FAR from perfect in many ways. Witness the mess with forcing DOCSIS 3.0 cable modems, at a higher monthly rental charge, on customers who want the same bandwidth and monthly usage caps at the same price new customers are getting, but are being forced to pay more for a piece of c*p SMC Wireless Modem/Router combo (they refuse to support or provide a stand-alone DOCSIS 3.0 modem). And don't get me started on their Internet usage numbers. If you believe the numbers they use to bill you then with no changes at home my monthly Internet usage has somehow doubled from around 31GB to over 62GB for the last two months. Last edited by neilpalmer400; 2012-06-12 at 05:10 AM. Reason: correct typos*

2012-06-15, 02:37 AM	#1008
proxy99 Rookie Join Date: Feb 2012 Posts: 13	SARA - default option for black boxes Well it looks that SARA has become the default FW choice for NextBox and RTN (new IPG) in initialized on demand (unless tech supp/sales makes that choice for you). Until now it was automatic. How long it will stay this way remains to be seen but this is significant. It seems that RTN has not been received as enthusiastically is initially anticipated. Hopefully it gives Rogers some room to work out all issues that have arisen from the inception.

2012-06-15, 08:59 AM	#1009
alebowgm Veteran Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 3,920	Where do you get that information from? __________________ Windsor:CM4228+4220HD to 1.Samsung LNT3242H+2.AccessHD DTA1080D [RCA DTA800+CM7775+DTB-H260F in storage] GTA:LN40B750

2012-06-20, 05:52 AM	#1016
viper359 Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 420	Yup, I got the update last night too it appears, just now playing with it, but I echo almost all your statements above me. I knew immediately that there was an update. I turned on my system, hit guide, and nothing happened for a good 30 seconds. URRRRRG. I do hope it was a one off, I am not going through that hell again with the guide. I will test my Whole Home setup and see if they buggered that, which for me was working awesome. Responsive, quick, no playback issues etc. __________________ Elite Kuro\|Oppo BDP-80\|Denon 890\|Xbox 360\|Paradigm Mon7's\| Polk PSW 125 Sub\|LG Extender\| Rogers 8642\|Popcorn Hour A200\|

2012-06-20, 05:07 PM	#1020
viper359 Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 420	I will do a full recap of this firmware update, like the last one I did, once I play with it some more, and get a few responses on here as well. One thing I did notice, after the guide being sluggish to popup when pushed, I did a hard reboot, and now it seems to be somewhat snappy again. Scrolling down the guide on what is visible is snappy, but, going down past what is visible, or doing pages at a time, slower than before. Not horrid, but not what they finally managed to get it to. Not sure if its just me or not, but On Demand seems much faster to load, and even programs load up quicker. However, Fast Forward is super slow to respond on on demand programs. Playback on recorded content I haven't got a chance to check. I hope Rogers takes the summer to get this fixed right, and working proper for the fall schedule. __________________ Elite Kuro\|Oppo BDP-80\|Denon 890\|Xbox 360\|Paradigm Mon7's\| Polk PSW 125 Sub\|LG Extender\| Rogers 8642\|Popcorn Hour A200\|

2012-06-13, 02:42 AM	#1007
proxy99 Rookie Join Date: Feb 2012 Posts: 13	Frankly I fail to believe it's only testing that is done on site... It's the implementation that decides all. Keep in mind that cable companies may request from Cisco custom software versions, what is actually the case. Just read about US PVR experiences. You can install windows and using policy editor set permissions that it would be a joke. Same with managing networks like cable TV. Few years ago I recall a slew of SARA upgrades, when from week to week you could see PVR functionality/behavior changes... and frequent reboots. The result as far as I recall was a modification that disabled IPG viewing while recording 2 programs at the same time. There was more (like interface changes), but time has passed and I won't be able to name more. This I remember though, as it stayed with us. You press "guide" while recording 2 programs and... no guide comes up, just a list of recordings with a choice to cancel one or both. It wasn't the case before. It seems to me that in order to conserve bandwidth or whatever resources they (Rogers) blocked/modded certain functions. Was it the same time the internet cap was introduced (?) don't recall, but you draw your own conclusions. Good thing is that Cisco/Rogers team in all its wisdom has not killed SARA or crippled it to a degree that would make PVR's a distant memory... Since there are diff. SARA ver. on diff. markets plus other op. system flavors I strongly believe that cable operators have more say in that respect then they are willing to admit. Blaming it all on Cisco looks like a perfect excuse, almost like vis major... sounds very improbable to me.

2012-06-15, 01:12 PM	#1010
yyzlhr Join Date: Nov 2011 Posts: 671	SARA is not the default option. Reps are still required to add the RTN IPG code to every order where a 4642/8642 is added to the account. The order must be confirmed before the rep can go back in and remove the RTN code. However, existing customers who have a 4642/8642 who did not receive RTN during the original roll out will not receive it unless they request it.

2012-06-15, 10:36 PM	#1011
proxy99 Rookie Join Date: Feb 2012 Posts: 13	I was informed by a rep that when a box is added RTN has to be enabled manually, as I said up to this moment it was automatic. The change has been implemented recently. I was told that RTN is enabled only when customers request it. Whether the reps get instruction to enable it for all new installations remains to be seen, but it seems that they'll at least be asking about that. With other words if they just put the box in the customers acct. it will be SARA operated. That is the version I got. This change has been a result of too many complaints from customers. The fact that Rogers has disassociated box addition and RTN by creating a manual option to add it is quite interesting anyway.

2012-06-16, 01:00 AM	#1012
yyzlhr Join Date: Nov 2011 Posts: 671	It is still automatic for anyone who adds a Cisco 4642/8642. This is system enforced. Customers need to opt out of RTN if they don't want it when adding a new 8642/4642. Existing customers who already have an 8642/4642 without RTN are unaffected. There have been no changes as to how customers get RTN since the rollout started. Customers who plan on adding a 4642/8642 going forward need to opt out of RTN if they want it as the addition of the RTN code is SYSTEM ENFORCED.

2012-06-16, 09:28 AM	#1013
grampagord Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Mississauga ON Posts: 64	I'm obviously a little out of date on my acronyms. RTN is the new firmware/IPG & SARA is the old?

2012-06-18, 01:21 AM	#1014
yyzlhr Join Date: Nov 2011 Posts: 671	Exactly, RTN is new SARA is the old.

2012-06-20, 03:47 AM	#1015
yyzlhr Join Date: Nov 2011 Posts: 671	So, I'm up late once again finishing up some work and my 8642 has rebooted but this time its doing some lengthy countdown sequence. Hopefully, Rogers is finally pushing a new firmware version. Will update soon. EDIT: So yep, it was a new firmware update and once again it's one step forward and one step back. Things that have improved: -Pressing 'D' when the weather app is open will actually close the weather app -No more useless translucent rectangle at the bottom when the menu is open -Text in guide is more legible, overall guide appearance is a bit more modern -Nice animation when conducting a search -Info bar pops up much faster when you hit the info button (However the mini info bar pops up first for some reason. Not sure if this is a bug or if Rogers purposely designed it this way) -Pressing the Ok button during a recording will bring up the mini info bar that actually displays legible information, the text no longer overlaps each other -When scheduling a recording in the search app, the dialog box appears in the right spot -System feels much more responsive EXCEPT FOR GUIDE SCROLLING Things that have gotten worse: -Guide scrolling has become UNUSABLE again. They finally made the guide scrolling snappy enough in the last firmware and now its back where it was when it first came in fact I think it might actually be WORSE! This is just so horrible, IMO it negates all the other improvements. -When playing back a recorded program the progress bar now takes up more room which is totally unnecesary Things that are still not fixed/missing: -Zoom levels are still useless -Pressing * while in the search app will not exit the search app -No ability to search the PVR even though the 8300 has the exact same search app and has this ability -No ability to search by genre without typing in the genre in the search menu -Probably doesn't have TV call display, but I don't have Rogers home phone so i can't confirm -No ability to skip forward or backwards in 10 minute increments -No slow motion I still can't believe it took this long to create such a mediocre update. Rogers/Cisco just do not get it.

2012-06-20, 11:54 AM	#1017
bbtfastback Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 46	The one thing that annoys me the most is the fact that we have to manually choose all the channels we don't want to view, especially those that we are unsubscribed to. This should be automatic. Looking for something with a gui that the wife can use, and where we can access hockey games, and good bye Rogers...this isn't worth $50+/month.

2012-06-20, 03:23 PM	#1018
ryandude_12345 Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 215	I really want the numbers that are displayed on the TV when we are inputting a channel to be changed... It seriously looks ugly and unprofessional!

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