Pace Summit (DC758D) thread - Page 14 - Canadian TV, Computing and Home Theatre Forums

drhorrible · 2009-12-15, 08:47 PM

I have a Pace DC758D+Shaw PVR Expander, which initially was working great, but has started to exhibit some weird behavior.

1) blank recordings, starting last Friday. I'd had none until then; since then, I've had three or four.

2) non-functional physical buttons. My power button does what the 'guide' button is supposed to do; the guide button is non-functional. In particular, I can't get into the menu anymore. When I talked to Shaw customer support today, they reset my box to default settings (I had changed my audio to L-PCM, which fixes lipsync issues on my LG LH40). Now I am stuck with the default audio (and associated lipsync issues) for the next week until the service person comes.

Proud_Infidel · 2009-12-15, 10:41 PM

Thunder, you have to realize that this forum is a micro fraction of the actual installed base of these units, and in all likelihood you probably won't see anything at all. Sometimes focus groups such as this tend to make everyone "skittish", but in the grand scheme of things they are considered "errata", meaning the conditions are that you need to be a Shaw customer, own a PACE, record or watch enough TV to even witness any of these occurrences, have and know how to use the Internet, and be savvy enough to find these forums, be committed enough to register, and care enough to actually post. So although it may seem like a Tsunami, it is most likely a small ripple. It may be a small sampling is what I am getting at. Often you will not get people going through all that and posting "I'm quite happy with mine". Usually the troubles are the ones that get the attention as it is in all things.

That's just the way I have seen things regarding Forums of all kinds- very narrowly focused.

My .02c CDN

Thunder · 2009-12-16, 07:31 PM

Thanks for the comments folks. I owned a number of Aspen Tahoes over 12 months about two years ago, and it was a nightmare. I was actually one of the ranters on the RANT thread last year. I gave up on the Aspen and went back to the Motorola. They have been horses and I am very pleased with how they have worked since Shaw swapped them in for the Tahoes.

I got the Summit, as a cheaper HD cable box and because I would have the ability to record if I purchased an expander. I expect you are right Proud Infidel, and as Kritiker also stated it may be, that once the software upgrade does occur, many of the issues noted in this thread will disappear. One can only hope. As another poster said (sorry could not find the quote), the problem for Shaw is that changes and upgrades seem to be very slow, and the frustration factor for early adopters is severe. Thanks again for the comments.

NormB · 2009-12-18, 11:25 AM

I have a Pace DC758D and my own external drive setup. Works well in all respects except for generating blank recordings, which I would say occur perhaps 10-15% of the time. I thought I'd add a bit of evidence that other might have had but haven't posted expicitly: in fact I get two kinds of blank recordings, but (and this is the evidence) the results for both are the same as those reported generally--the time cursor all the way to the right (end) of the program, etc. One kind: the recorder trying to record a series recording on a station I for which I have no subscription (time shifted ones). re: these, the software should be smart enough to pass them by, but isn't. The other kind: an attempt to record a perfectly normally presented and accessible program. The fact that the latter generate the same result as the former might further point to the Pace box missing something at the initiation of a recording from which it cannot recover.

FYI I have had another really serious recording issue a few times: the box thinking that the hard drive is full when it was only perhaps 10% so. This gets fixed by rebooting, but results in the loss of new recordings in the meantime.

Kritiker · 2009-12-18, 12:17 PM

NormB, your first blank recording type is supposedly an onscreen guide problem and, as I understand it, is also a problem on the Motorolas.

Your second type of problem is actually about three different sub-problems (upon which I reported in the Aspen thread) and which, I am told by Pace Tech Support affects up to 3% of recordings and is apparently a firmware problem. The various Aspens I have had were all affected by the blank recording problem and, although Summits too are susceptible, I have manged to avoid these so far.

I am now experiencing the NH problem, though, which I never had before. Incidentally it occurred on two Summits, both recording the episode of Fringe on WCCOD (channel 208 in Winnipeg) last night. I don't know what would have happened if I had left the shows to record but I tried to view the in-progress recording and the recorded portions of the show and after a few minutes, the episode started recording properly. So on the first box I looked at I lost the first few minutes and the rest recorded correctly. On the second box, since I checked later, I lost a few more minutes and the rest recorded properly after that.

I do hope that the expected firmware update comes sooner rather than later and that it actually does fix some of these problems.

Fraggle · 2009-12-20, 08:16 PM

I recently installed the Pace Summit (DC758D) after my Moto 6208 gave up the ghost after 6 years use.
According to the Shaw representative on the phone, this is the only box Shaw is going to be selling direct in Calgary for the next while- all other boxes will need to be bought through third party retailers or rented from Shaw. If you want to buy PVR, you will need to add a hard disk extender.
Which brings me to my question- should I go with the Shaw 1Tb drive at $150, or buy a thrid party HDD? On first look it seems the current Shaw price is hard to beat for 1Tb at least. What are others thoughts?

Kritiker · 2009-12-21, 04:53 PM

Fraggle, many thoughts can be viewed at Adding a SATA Drive To Pace HDPVRs.

Jack7 · 2009-12-21, 10:24 PM

I'm new to this site but haven't read anything current about the rewind and ff issues with this box. Everytime I stop the rewind and press play it skips back 15-20 seconds or more. Talked to shaw and they basically told me thats just the way this machine is. I exchanged it for another and same thing. Is this what everyone experiences or could it be the expander? I have until tommorrow to returnt this unit just curious what everyone else has experienced

Thanks

Fraggle · 2009-12-21, 10:52 PM

Thanks- off to that thread now...

JayZee · 2009-12-22, 12:15 PM

Hey Jack7, I posted earlier on this forum about the annoying FF/REV issue and yes its normal, I guess its just more crappy programming. The only thing I found that sometimes works is recording another program at the same time, it seems to be less jumpy, but this doesn't always work either.

mgl · 2009-12-25, 06:33 PM

I'm setting up a Pace 758D with PVR expander for my father today and the activation failed. Shaw can't send a tech out until Tuesday but I won't be here to show my father how to use it so I'm hoping you can help me now.

1. I set up the box per Shaw's instructions (which are funny since they omit connecting the coax cable to the box).
2. I had to call for activation since web activation is only for units purchased directly from Shaw. The cable wasn't connected yet (since my brain must have been turned off and I actually followed Shaw's instructions to the letter). The rep started the activation and said he'd call back in half an hour when it should be completed.
3. I noticed the cable wasn't connected so I hooked it up.
4. The rep called and we got the box working. But the DVR functionality wasn't enabled as the drive wasn't working. He reset it and the format option eventually appeared. I said yes to the format and he hung up, saying that the format would take 10 minutes.
5. An hour and a half later, I tried unplugging. It just kept displaying a 0 on its screen when turned on. The rep tried resetting it but got nowhere. Now we are waiting for a tech to visit.

Is there anything else I can try? Can I do a hard reset myself? I'm more familiar with the SA units that Rogers uses.

Thanks for your help.

snak-pak · 2009-12-26, 02:23 AM

Hi gang, it's Boxing Day tomorrow and I'd like to pick up a DC758D on sale. I use Shaw in Calgary. A couple of questions:

- Can I block/unblock channels using the DC758D so that I only see the channels I actually get? Today I have the small black standard def digital box from Shaw (Motorola?), and I have no control over the channels I see... kinda frustrating to see hundreds of channels I don't get... especially when it takes a few seconds to change channels.

- Is the DC758D the best HD box to get for Shaw today? Looks like a much newer box than the Motorola DCT3416. I don't plan to buy another HD set-top box anytime soon so I'd like to get the most future-proof model today.

My TV is 1080p so even getting 1080i on the DC758D would be better than my standard def 4:3 broadcasts today.

thanks,
snak

Nanuuk · 2009-12-26, 11:54 AM

Hi Snak-pak. A couple of points. You can use the favourites functionality on your remote to by-pass all the channels you don't subscribe to. I believe this is true for either the Pace or Motorola boxes. I have enjoyed great success with the Motorola boxes over the years (starting in 2001). They tend to be very reliable for the most part. I don't have any experience with the Pace, so you'll have to read others testimony on those boxes. BTW, the 3416 is on sale at Soundsaround in Calgary. The flyer doesn't show a price though.

accord1999 · 2009-12-26, 07:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by snak-pak

- Is the DC758D the best HD box to get for Shaw today? Looks like a much newer box than the Motorola DCT3416. I don't plan to buy another HD set-top box anytime soon so I'd like to get the most future-proof model today.

I think the 758D is the best available terminal from Shaw today. It should be the most future-proof because it has MPEG-4 support (though who know's when or if Shaw will ever make such a switch) and as of now, it's the only one that support's >1TB hard drives; right now I have one connected to a 2 TB hard drive and can record around 300-400 hours of HD. From the Motorola thread, they can't recognize hard drives larger than 1 TB.

The 758D also has faster guide navigation, is cooler running and doesn't need a fan and has a smaller footprint.

snak-pak · 2009-12-26, 11:41 PM

Thanks guys, great answers to my questions. I think Motorola is the better brand and they make great products but Shaw seems to be phasing them out for whatever reason. Although many retailers are still selling them at about $379 with a 160Gb drive and I was tempted.

I picked up a Pace DC758D today for $229 from Future Shop, and will add an external drive to make it into a PVR once it's activated. It's very good to know the navigation is faster, that's important to me. And the other stuff like MPEG4 and large drives sounds cool. I'll look up that favourite channels feature too.

I just found this site yesterday and will keep coming back, nice to find a discussion group on digital cable topics close to home!

Happy Holidays!

2009-12-18, 11:25 AM	#199
NormB Rookie Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 7	Two kinds of blank recordings I have a Pace DC758D and my own external drive setup. Works well in all respects except for generating blank recordings, which I would say occur perhaps 10-15% of the time. I thought I'd add a bit of evidence that other might have had but haven't posted expicitly: in fact I get two kinds of blank recordings, but (and this is the evidence) the results for both are the same as those reported generally--the time cursor all the way to the right (end) of the program, etc. One kind: the recorder trying to record a series recording on a station I for which I have no subscription (time shifted ones). re: these, the software should be smart enough to pass them by, but isn't. The other kind: an attempt to record a perfectly normally presented and accessible program. The fact that the latter generate the same result as the former might further point to the Pace box missing something at the initiation of a recording from which it cannot recover. FYI I have had another really serious recording issue a few times: the box thinking that the hard drive is full when it was only perhaps 10% so. This gets fixed by rebooting, but results in the loss of new recordings in the meantime.

2009-12-21, 10:24 PM	#203
Jack7 Rookie Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Port Coquiltam, BC Posts: 2	Rewind and FF issues I'm new to this site but haven't read anything current about the rewind and ff issues with this box. Everytime I stop the rewind and press play it skips back 15-20 seconds or more. Talked to shaw and they basically told me thats just the way this machine is. I exchanged it for another and same thing. Is this what everyone experiences or could it be the expander? I have until tommorrow to returnt this unit just curious what everyone else has experienced Thanks

2009-12-25, 06:33 PM	#206
mgl Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 29	Activation failed I'm setting up a Pace 758D with PVR expander for my father today and the activation failed. Shaw can't send a tech out until Tuesday but I won't be here to show my father how to use it so I'm hoping you can help me now. 1. I set up the box per Shaw's instructions (which are funny since they omit connecting the coax cable to the box). 2. I had to call for activation since web activation is only for units purchased directly from Shaw. The cable wasn't connected yet (since my brain must have been turned off and I actually followed Shaw's instructions to the letter). The rep started the activation and said he'd call back in half an hour when it should be completed. 3. I noticed the cable wasn't connected so I hooked it up. 4. The rep called and we got the box working. But the DVR functionality wasn't enabled as the drive wasn't working. He reset it and the format option eventually appeared. I said yes to the format and he hung up, saying that the format would take 10 minutes. 5. An hour and a half later, I tried unplugging. It just kept displaying a 0 on its screen when turned on. The rep tried resetting it but got nowhere. Now we are waiting for a tech to visit. Is there anything else I can try? Can I do a hard reset myself? I'm more familiar with the SA units that Rogers uses. Thanks for your help.

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2009-12-15, 08:47 PM	#196
drhorrible Rookie Join Date: Dec 2009 Posts: 11	I have a Pace DC758D+Shaw PVR Expander, which initially was working great, but has started to exhibit some weird behavior. 1) blank recordings, starting last Friday. I'd had none until then; since then, I've had three or four. 2) non-functional physical buttons. My power button does what the 'guide' button is supposed to do; the guide button is non-functional. In particular, I can't get into the menu anymore. When I talked to Shaw customer support today, they reset my box to default settings (I had changed my audio to L-PCM, which fixes lipsync issues on my LG LH40). Now I am stuck with the default audio (and associated lipsync issues) for the next week until the service person comes.

2009-12-15, 10:41 PM	#197
Proud_Infidel Rookie Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Calgary Posts: 12	Thunder, you have to realize that this forum is a micro fraction of the actual installed base of these units, and in all likelihood you probably won't see anything at all. Sometimes focus groups such as this tend to make everyone "skittish", but in the grand scheme of things they are considered "errata", meaning the conditions are that you need to be a Shaw customer, own a PACE, record or watch enough TV to even witness any of these occurrences, have and know how to use the Internet, and be savvy enough to find these forums, be committed enough to register, and care enough to actually post. So although it may seem like a Tsunami, it is most likely a small ripple. It may be a small sampling is what I am getting at. Often you will not get people going through all that and posting "I'm quite happy with mine". Usually the troubles are the ones that get the attention as it is in all things. That's just the way I have seen things regarding Forums of all kinds- very narrowly focused. My .02c CDN

2009-12-16, 07:31 PM	#198
Thunder Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 251	Thanks for the comments folks. I owned a number of Aspen Tahoes over 12 months about two years ago, and it was a nightmare. I was actually one of the ranters on the RANT thread last year. I gave up on the Aspen and went back to the Motorola. They have been horses and I am very pleased with how they have worked since Shaw swapped them in for the Tahoes. I got the Summit, as a cheaper HD cable box and because I would have the ability to record if I purchased an expander. I expect you are right Proud Infidel, and as Kritiker also stated it may be, that once the software upgrade does occur, many of the issues noted in this thread will disappear. One can only hope. As another poster said (sorry could not find the quote), the problem for Shaw is that changes and upgrades seem to be very slow, and the frustration factor for early adopters is severe. Thanks again for the comments.

2009-12-18, 12:17 PM	#200
Kritiker Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Winnipeg, MB, Canada Posts: 536	NormB, your first blank recording type is supposedly an onscreen guide problem and, as I understand it, is also a problem on the Motorolas. Your second type of problem is actually about three different sub-problems (upon which I reported in the Aspen thread) and which, I am told by Pace Tech Support affects up to 3% of recordings and is apparently a firmware problem. The various Aspens I have had were all affected by the blank recording problem and, although Summits too are susceptible, I have manged to avoid these so far. I am now experiencing the NH problem, though, which I never had before. Incidentally it occurred on two Summits, both recording the episode of Fringe on WCCOD (channel 208 in Winnipeg) last night. I don't know what would have happened if I had left the shows to record but I tried to view the in-progress recording and the recorded portions of the show and after a few minutes, the episode started recording properly. So on the first box I looked at I lost the first few minutes and the rest recorded correctly. On the second box, since I checked later, I lost a few more minutes and the rest recorded properly after that. I do hope that the expected firmware update comes sooner rather than later and that it actually does fix some of these problems.

2009-12-20, 08:16 PM	#201
Fraggle Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 19	I recently installed the Pace Summit (DC758D) after my Moto 6208 gave up the ghost after 6 years use. According to the Shaw representative on the phone, this is the only box Shaw is going to be selling direct in Calgary for the next while- all other boxes will need to be bought through third party retailers or rented from Shaw. If you want to buy PVR, you will need to add a hard disk extender. Which brings me to my question- should I go with the Shaw 1Tb drive at $150, or buy a thrid party HDD? On first look it seems the current Shaw price is hard to beat for 1Tb at least. What are others thoughts?

2009-12-21, 04:53 PM	#202
Kritiker Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Winnipeg, MB, Canada Posts: 536	Fraggle, many thoughts can be viewed at Adding a SATA Drive To Pace HDPVRs.

2009-12-21, 10:52 PM	#204
Fraggle Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 19	Thanks- off to that thread now...

2009-12-22, 12:15 PM	#205
JayZee Rookie Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: The Peoples Republic of Northwestern Ontario Posts: 26	Hey Jack7, I posted earlier on this forum about the annoying FF/REV issue and yes its normal, I guess its just more crappy programming. The only thing I found that sometimes works is recording another program at the same time, it seems to be less jumpy, but this doesn't always work either.

2009-12-26, 02:23 AM	#207
snak-pak Rookie Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Calgary Posts: 2	Hi gang, it's Boxing Day tomorrow and I'd like to pick up a DC758D on sale. I use Shaw in Calgary. A couple of questions: - Can I block/unblock channels using the DC758D so that I only see the channels I actually get? Today I have the small black standard def digital box from Shaw (Motorola?), and I have no control over the channels I see... kinda frustrating to see hundreds of channels I don't get... especially when it takes a few seconds to change channels. - Is the DC758D the best HD box to get for Shaw today? Looks like a much newer box than the Motorola DCT3416. I don't plan to buy another HD set-top box anytime soon so I'd like to get the most future-proof model today. My TV is 1080p so even getting 1080i on the DC758D would be better than my standard def 4:3 broadcasts today. thanks, snak

2009-12-26, 11:54 AM	#208
Nanuuk Veteran Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Calgary, AB Shaw Exo Posts: 4,811	Hi Snak-pak. A couple of points. You can use the favourites functionality on your remote to by-pass all the channels you don't subscribe to. I believe this is true for either the Pace or Motorola boxes. I have enjoyed great success with the Motorola boxes over the years (starting in 2001). They tend to be very reliable for the most part. I don't have any experience with the Pace, so you'll have to read others testimony on those boxes. BTW, the 3416 is on sale at Soundsaround in Calgary. The flyer doesn't show a price though.

2009-12-26, 11:41 PM	#210
snak-pak Rookie Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Calgary Posts: 2	Thanks guys, great answers to my questions. I think Motorola is the better brand and they make great products but Shaw seems to be phasing them out for whatever reason. Although many retailers are still selling them at about $379 with a 160Gb drive and I was tempted. I picked up a Pace DC758D today for $229 from Future Shop, and will add an external drive to make it into a PVR once it's activated. It's very good to know the navigation is faster, that's important to me. And the other stuff like MPEG4 and large drives sounds cool. I'll look up that favourite channels feature too. I just found this site yesterday and will keep coming back, nice to find a discussion group on digital cable topics close to home! Happy Holidays!