Can you use a non-Eastlink box? (Yes, depending) - Page 3 - Canadian TV, Computing and Home Theatre Forums

xw864 · 2011-03-01, 07:29 PM

Thanks for the reply.
Yes the DCT6200 are compatible with Eastlink.
I have 2 already registered.
The only difference is that for the 2 working models that I have they were not erased before having them registered with Eastlink.

leaffan1967 · 2011-03-01, 07:38 PM

Ahh right on, good advice for anyone coming to the area for sure..

tsys · 2011-05-29, 10:11 PM

Hi folks

Located a DCX3400-M on Best-Buy. They show a Shaw branded box (not available in the local ON store) with a 500gig HDD and dual HD tuners for a $150 less than the 250gig Eastlink branded DCX3400 with 1 HD and 1 SD tuners. Phoned Eastlink and they confirmed I could use it so I ordered one of the Shaw boxes from BC.

Eastlink activation CSR's could not activate it and neither could the service call tech the next day. It displayed a zero and the blue power light was on, but the PVR would not respond to the remote or any touchscreen presses including attempting a cold boot. Have successfully been using a DCX700 at same coax location.

Returned the PVR to the local store and ordered another from their site when I got home. Fast forward 10 days and the new second DCX3400-M once again cannot be activated by the CSR's. Same tech comes for second service call and the call ends the same way with a blue light and a zero. This time he takes all the info and forwards it in an email to someone. Asks me to leave it connected.

24 hours later nothing has happened so I try a cold boot and this time it worked. I am currently in a menu whose choices are run, Auto, oob, Sudb, EnEt, and dlSP. I cannot find info on the www re these commands and I hesitate to power down in case I get the zero again. Is there something I can do now that will allow Eastlink to activate this PVR?

tsys · 2011-06-04, 11:07 PM

Was contacted by an Eastlink manager **** who saw this post and offered to help.

As it turns out, the DVR's Unit Address (UA) had been entered incorrectly into their system. If you ever have an activation issue it is probably a good idea to ask the CSR to read back the numbers you gave them.

Additionally the Shaw DCX3400 needed a cold boot on this end to download the Eastlink firmware and software. It was accessed by holding down only the menu button while re-applying AC power; then finding the "cold" command with the up/down arrows; then pressing select to run it.

Thank you **** and thank you Digital Home forum.
tsys

loracweb · 2011-06-04, 11:19 PM

really? I've never had any success with that on DCX units. In fact I've never been able to bring up those commands like you can do on the DCT series.

Mostly i just tell people to make sure the unit is on the proper frequency, as I've never been able to figure out a way to reset the firmware on cable card units.

tonyh · 2012-01-02, 05:17 PM

is anyone familar with the internet company HDtv DCT sales

denben73 · 2012-01-03, 12:33 AM

See this thread from 2010.

http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=125393

Doppelganger399 · 2012-01-03, 12:41 AM

Don't laugh at my question I really no very little about tech

Can I use a Star Choice Motorola box on an Eastlink system if the system is completely digital?

denben73 · 2012-01-03, 12:59 AM

Star Choice is satellite, different technology, different frequencies, etc...

Doppelganger399 · 2012-01-03, 05:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by denben73

Star Choice is satellite, different technology, different frequencies, etc...

ok, thanks.:-)

jefiny · 2012-01-07, 03:47 PM

Greetings:

If I may impose, would someone please post the 1-877 telephone number that Eastlink has listed in the activation instructions packaged with the DCX3400.

Doppelganger399 · 2012-01-07, 06:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jefiny

If I may impose, would someone please post the 1-877 telephone number that Eastlink has listed in the activation instructions packaged with the DCX3400.

1-888-345-1111

Thats for Atlantic Canada.

jefiny · 2012-01-08, 06:38 PM

Thanks, Doppelganger. The reasoning behind my request is that Eastlink listed an 877 number in the instructions packaged with the Sudbury area 3400-M that I had purchased and out of the four CSRs I have spoken with over the course of the past several weeks, only one – the one at the 877 number – was even aware that the UA # was required for activation. The other three were contacted via the 888 number and the last one of those emphatically stated that the UA # was not required. The Sudbury 3400-M, although eventually activated, was malfunctioning out of the box and returned. The current one in hand is a 3400-M Shaw unit purchased online from Best Buy (for convenience, and the larger hard drive). I'm just trying to reduce the variables in getting the Shaw box up and running by going through the 877 number.

Admin has directed that we not discuss the Shaw boxes in this thread but it needs to be said that you pay your money and you take your chances going this route. Poster tsys (above) was successful; not so here. The last CSR I spoke with, the one who emphatically stated that the UA # was not required, was the one who fielded the activation call for the Shaw unit. He also emphatically stated that there was no way to enable the Shaw unit because it was not listed in Eastlink's inventory (and why would it be?). So be warned.

jefiny · 2012-01-18, 02:24 PM

Duh me. Eastlink has a pdf copy of the retail installation guide posted on the Reference Guides page of its web site. The 877 number is in that brochure.

The Shaw 3400-M wasn't acknowledging the signal the 877 CSR sent it and I was handed off to 888 support. I did a 'cold boot' from my end before contacting the triple 8ers and the first call to that number got the unit online but not fully functional. A re-downloading of the F/W and S/W was done during the second call and that resolved most of the issues. Following that, the unit was recording to the hard drive as it should but I could not access the recordings from the list. Live rewind (chase play) was not working either. Unplugging the unit for a reset was the cure.

The 500 GB hard drive is a Seagate and it's quiet. (ST3500414CS.) The fan, however, transmits a fair bit of hum through the case so at some point I'll have a look at how it is mounted. Hopefully just a re-torque of the screws is all that is required, but otherwise it gets a mod before the 3400 can replace the 6416 in the bedroom.

FYI: initiating a 'cold boot' can be a finicky process. It took a half dozen attempts to get the timing just right in order to get into the boot screen. (Simply pressing the soft-touch MENU button - which requires power to function - whilst plugging in never worked for me.)

fugger · 2012-02-01, 06:54 AM

How were you able to do a "cold boot" by not pressing the Menu button? I am having no such luck holding down the Menu and applying AC Power into my Shaw DCX3400 from Best Buy

2011-03-01, 07:29 PM	#31
xw864 Rookie Join Date: Mar 2011 Posts: 2	Motorolla DCT6200 Thanks for the reply. Yes the DCT6200 are compatible with Eastlink. I have 2 already registered. The only difference is that for the 2 working models that I have they were not erased before having them registered with Eastlink.

2011-03-01, 07:38 PM	#32
leaffan1967 Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Nova Scotia *Eastlink HD DVR (Motorola 6416 III) Posts: 909	Ahh right on, good advice for anyone coming to the area for sure.. __________________ RCA 26" HDTV - (ATSC/QAM Tuner) - 720p/1080i

2011-05-29, 10:11 PM	#33
tsys Rookie Join Date: May 2011 Posts: 2	can't activate DCX3400-M Hi folks Located a DCX3400-M on Best-Buy. They show a Shaw branded box (not available in the local ON store) with a 500gig HDD and dual HD tuners for a $150 less than the 250gig Eastlink branded DCX3400 with 1 HD and 1 SD tuners. Phoned Eastlink and they confirmed I could use it so I ordered one of the Shaw boxes from BC. Eastlink activation CSR's could not activate it and neither could the service call tech the next day. It displayed a zero and the blue power light was on, but the PVR would not respond to the remote or any touchscreen presses including attempting a cold boot. Have successfully been using a DCX700 at same coax location. Returned the PVR to the local store and ordered another from their site when I got home. Fast forward 10 days and the new second DCX3400-M once again cannot be activated by the CSR's. Same tech comes for second service call and the call ends the same way with a blue light and a zero. This time he takes all the info and forwards it in an email to someone. Asks me to leave it connected. 24 hours later nothing has happened so I try a cold boot and this time it worked. I am currently in a menu whose choices are run, Auto, oob, Sudb, EnEt, and dlSP. I cannot find info on the www re these commands and I hesitate to power down in case I get the zero again. Is there something I can do now that will allow Eastlink to activate this PVR?

2011-06-04, 11:07 PM	#34
tsys Rookie Join Date: May 2011 Posts: 2	Resolved Was contacted by an Eastlink manager ** who saw this post and offered to help. As it turns out, the DVR's Unit Address (UA) had been entered incorrectly into their system. If you ever have an activation issue it is probably a good idea to ask the CSR to read back the numbers you gave them. Additionally the Shaw DCX3400 needed a cold boot on this end to download the Eastlink firmware and software. It was accessed by holding down only the menu button while re-applying AC power; then finding the "cold" command with the up/down arrows; then pressing select to run it. Thank you ** and thank you Digital Home forum. tsys

2012-01-02, 05:17 PM	#36
tonyh Rookie Join Date: Jan 2012 Posts: 1	Eastlink DCX 3400M is anyone familar with the internet company HDtv DCT sales

2011-06-04, 11:19 PM	#35
loracweb Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Vancouver, BC Posts: 852	really? I've never had any success with that on DCX units. In fact I've never been able to bring up those commands like you can do on the DCT series. Mostly i just tell people to make sure the unit is on the proper frequency, as I've never been able to figure out a way to reset the firmware on cable card units.

2012-01-03, 12:33 AM	#37
denben73 Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Timmins, ON Posts: 817	See this thread from 2010. http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=125393

2012-01-03, 12:41 AM	#38
Doppelganger399 Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Marystown, NL Posts: 482	Don't laugh at my question I really no very little about tech Can I use a Star Choice Motorola box on an Eastlink system if the system is completely digital?

2012-01-03, 12:59 AM	#39
denben73 Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Timmins, ON Posts: 817	Star Choice is satellite, different technology, different frequencies, etc...

2012-01-07, 03:47 PM	#41
jefiny Rookie Join Date: Jan 2012 Posts: 5	Greetings: If I may impose, would someone please post the 1-877 telephone number that Eastlink has listed in the activation instructions packaged with the DCX3400.

2012-01-08, 06:38 PM	#43
jefiny Rookie Join Date: Jan 2012 Posts: 5	Thanks, Doppelganger. The reasoning behind my request is that Eastlink listed an 877 number in the instructions packaged with the Sudbury area 3400-M that I had purchased and out of the four CSRs I have spoken with over the course of the past several weeks, only one – the one at the 877 number – was even aware that the UA # was required for activation. The other three were contacted via the 888 number and the last one of those emphatically stated that the UA # was not required. The Sudbury 3400-M, although eventually activated, was malfunctioning out of the box and returned. The current one in hand is a 3400-M Shaw unit purchased online from Best Buy (for convenience, and the larger hard drive). I'm just trying to reduce the variables in getting the Shaw box up and running by going through the 877 number. Admin has directed that we not discuss the Shaw boxes in this thread but it needs to be said that you pay your money and you take your chances going this route. Poster tsys (above) was successful; not so here. The last CSR I spoke with, the one who emphatically stated that the UA # was not required, was the one who fielded the activation call for the Shaw unit. He also emphatically stated that there was no way to enable the Shaw unit because it was not listed in Eastlink's inventory (and why would it be?). So be warned. Last edited by jefiny; 2012-01-08 at 07:34 PM.

2012-01-18, 02:24 PM	#44
jefiny Rookie Join Date: Jan 2012 Posts: 5	Duh me. Eastlink has a pdf copy of the retail installation guide posted on the Reference Guides page of its web site. The 877 number is in that brochure. The Shaw 3400-M wasn't acknowledging the signal the 877 CSR sent it and I was handed off to 888 support. I did a 'cold boot' from my end before contacting the triple 8ers and the first call to that number got the unit online but not fully functional. A re-downloading of the F/W and S/W was done during the second call and that resolved most of the issues. Following that, the unit was recording to the hard drive as it should but I could not access the recordings from the list. Live rewind (chase play) was not working either. Unplugging the unit for a reset was the cure. The 500 GB hard drive is a Seagate and it's quiet. (ST3500414CS.) The fan, however, transmits a fair bit of hum through the case so at some point I'll have a look at how it is mounted. Hopefully just a re-torque of the screws is all that is required, but otherwise it gets a mod before the 3400 can replace the 6416 in the bedroom. FYI: initiating a 'cold boot' can be a finicky process. It took a half dozen attempts to get the timing just right in order to get into the boot screen. (Simply pressing the soft-touch MENU button - which requires power to function - whilst plugging in never worked for me.)

2012-02-01, 06:54 AM	#45
fugger Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Welland Posts: 15	How were you able to do a "cold boot" by not pressing the Menu button? I am having no such luck holding down the Menu and applying AC Power into my Shaw DCX3400 from Best Buy

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