Rogers 8642 HD (Nextbox) PVR Owners Thread: Read post #1 )

[Holmes108]

Originally Posted by Snootpelt

Holmes108....I am having the same problem with a brand new 8642HD unit. I cannot rely on the unit 'holding' its record settings and it frequently records some random channel wherein I cannot stop the recording and the screen shows blank when I switch to the channel being recording. #!$&ing annoying.

I replaced mine at the local store, came home and the very same thing happened the first day. I almost lost my mind. Black channel that wouldn't stop recording until I unplugged it. It wasn't channel 8 this time (I don't remember the channel this time).

I almost lost my mind. But I just stuck with it, and it hasn't happened again. Crossing my fingers. I have no doubt some combination of conditions causes this to happen, but it hasn't happened again yet.....

That being said, I do still have the same issue of all content being recorded as HD in the storage menu. I have 7 hours (mostly SD) at the moment, and am sitting at nearly 40%. I had the same issue with the last box. According to the "Space Remaining" screen, I'm only going to get 20 hours, whether it's HD or SD content.

I haven't yet filled up the PVR and seen if there are any issues when it happens. I'm crossing my fingers that it's just reporting the remaining space incorrectly, but I'm not optimistic.

Also, the Rogers store rep assured me they have 500GB models for rent, and when I unhooked my unit and lugged it down the next day, the rep that was there advised there are only 160GB models for rentand they only sell 500 GB models. I had clarified with the previous rep 3 times that I wanted to RENT the 500GB model. She showed me a screen in their system that supports her information. But it's been a pretty bad experience overall since I "upgraded" from the 8300.

So far, the only thing I like is the lack of the extra menu, the fact that it's black, and the fact that it stores "bookmarks" for multiple videos at a time. (the ability to continue multiple recordings from the last position is a very nice touch though).

[whitbyterry]

I have 7 hours (mostly SD) at the moment, and am sitting at nearly 40%. I had the same issue with the last box.

Are you sure you are not recording all of your programs on the "HD" version of your channels?

For example, I get CTV on channel 518. If I record a "SD" program on that channel, it takes up the space that an "HD" program would, even though it was an "SD" program. If I want it to take up less space, I have to record the program on the SD channel, channel 8.

[Holmes108]

Originally Posted by whitbyterry

Are you sure you are not recording all of your programs on the "HD" version of your channels?

For sure. I've tested using several recordings from channel 60 and below.

[whitbyterry]

You said "mostly" SD, how long are the HD programs that you have recorded? I have 8 programs recorded right now on my PVR. One is a 2.5 hour HD movie and a couple of HD shows totally about 2 hours plus a 2 hour SD movie. My usage is around 40%. It is possible that your usage is correct for the 160GB drive.

[Holmes108]

Originally Posted by whitbyterry

You said "mostly" SD, how long are the HD programs that you have recorded? I have 8 programs recorded right now on my PVR. One is a 2.5 hour HD movie and a couple of HD shows totally about 2 hours plus a 2 hour SD movie. My usage is around 40%. It is possible that your usage is correct for the 160GB drive.

When I first brought home my replacement unit, I taped one hour of SD, as a test, and it showed 15% used.

At this moment I have 5 hours HD and 5.5 hours SD and am sitting at 50% used.

You're supposed to get 20 Hours HD and 90 hours SD. So something is way out of whack. I'd say something is wrong with yours too. 5 hous of HD should be about 25% usage. An hour of SD should be less than 2%.

This isn't just "theoretical" either... my old 8300 had no issues. 2 or 3 hours of SD content would be maybe 4% usage.

[whitbyterry]

Maybe the math is just off on the % then. Best thing would be to watch everything and record 10 hours of HD and see if it shows around 50% used or not, I guess.

My tests won't be accurate now as I just added a 1TB Iomega DVR Expander to my setup.

[kibosh]

Originally Posted by 57

This has been discussed often and is a problem with the IPG - it's not accurate. Also, there is an issue with programming padding (firmware) as outlined below.

The "padding" (adding extra minutes) will only work if the programme is on more than once a week.

Hey . . . sorry I didn't respond earlier to this but I have been in Florida for the past 2 weeks (yes, it rocked!).

I had mentioned earlier that my weekly, all episode recording of Medium with added padding had kept the padding. I set up about 10 other shows to record while I was gone and all of them also retained the padding. All shows are only shown once per week and I did an "all episode on this channel in this time slot" recording.

[57]

Perhaps the issue has been corrected. I'll give it a try on some of my recordings.

[kibosh]

One funny thing I just noticed . . . my recording of Fringe on Thursday actually recorded. I know that the baseball game was on and that is what was recorded (which makes sense) and I assume that the IPG was updated to reflect that fringe was not on . . . I thought that Rogers used name based recordings and that no recording should have taken place? Did they change this too?

[57]

I assume that the IPG was updated to reflect that fringe was not on

Perhaps that assumption is incorrect and Fringe was on the IPG and the PVR recorded what it thought was Fringe. It is name-based recording, but it is also modified by "timeslot", "daily" "weekly" etc settings. The only time-based recording I know of with the PVR is the manual recording, which I actually managed to use successfully a few times recently.

[scotta]

Originally Posted by 57

The only time-based recording I know of with the PVR is the manual recording, which I actually managed to use successfully a few times recently.

(At least with the 8300HD) in addition to a manual recording, I believe that if you alter the start or end time of a standard single recording, then it ignores any subsequent title changes and always records, thus becoming time-based. The original title still appears in your "recorded programs" list.

[moti]

The problem I am having with converter box is that every five or so minutes the signal does berserk and the picture gets mess-up and the sound disappears. This situations lasts about 1 or 2 seconds. This occurs in recorded mode. It is now over a month old. Any suggestions? Moti

[snorlax]

Best guess is a heat related problem. When the temperature exceeds some critical temperature some component misbehaves and causes your trouble. I would move the PVR to a better ventilated place. Remove it from a sealed cabinet or move it off some other heat generating component. See if this makes a difference then you can act accordingly for a more permanent fix.

[57]

As for the padding discussed in posts 182/3, I padded some of my recordings that are only on once a week/timeslot recordings and the padding did not "stick" on my 8300. Perhaps the 8642 firmware keeps the padding

[SkiBunny]

^ Yep that's what I've always found before for the 8300HD too.