Rogers SA 4250HD Owners Discussion thread

[57]

Most HDTVs will remember the stretch modes for SD and HD formats independently. This allows you to stretch SD if desired (for CRT and plasma for example), while leaving the HD alone. This assumes the STB has passthrough and variable format settings like the SA's do.

[Bombtrack]

I'd just like to vouch for 57 and add that setting it to 480i really did improve my SD PQ. I only changed it to that setting earlier today after reading the last page in this thread.

[Eluder]

I did a quick search in this thread, but couldn't find anything regarding my issue with the 4250. I find that there is lag in the box accepting the key presses from the remote. Something that I don't experience with my 8300HD PVR, nor do I remember the 3250 acting this way. I've replaced the box once already, and it still does the same thing, so I'm starting to think it's just the way the box is. Anyone else find it slow compared to the 8300HD?

[57]

It may be slightly slower than the 8300HD, but it should be faster than the 3250HD. Perhaps you have the IR interference issue discussed in the following post - Caused by LCD TVs, CFLs, etc. Several fixes are outlined in that post/thread:

http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=64463

One interesting thing I noted was that my 3250HD was affected much more by my LCD than the SA8300HD I have now.

[Eluder]

I doubt it's the TV since it never affected the 3250's or the 8300's I've had. I guess as a test I'll move the STB to my other TV and see how it works. I also noticed another oddity with this box. If I set the box to 720P only and I hit the settings button and scroll up or down, I get a horizontal line, like static flicker on/off quickly. If it's set to 1080i, it doesn't do it. The first 4250 I had did the same thing, funny enough, this also does not happen on my 8300HD. I'm beginning to think these 4250's are crap compared to the 8300HD or even the 3250. Maybe I should return the box and get my money back (purchased) and just take my bro-in-law's spare 3250.

[NR4250]

I find that there is lag in the box accepting the key presses from the remote. Something that I don't experience with my 8300HD PVR, nor do I remember the 3250 acting this way. I've replaced the box once already, and it still does the same thing, so I'm starting to think it's just the way the box is. Anyone else find it slow compared to the 8300HD?

I've never tried a Rogers 8300HD (and don't intend to since I don't care about PVR features) but I can confirm that the 4250HD's responses to button presses on the remote are indeed rather slow. Even my 940SD boxes don't respond as slowly as the 4250HD does.

I also noticed another oddity with this box. If I set the box to 720P only and I hit the settings button and scroll up or down, I get a horizontal line, like static flicker on/off quickly. If it's set to 1080i, it doesn't do it. The first 4250 I had did the same thing, funny enough, this also does not happen on my 8300HD. I'm beginning to think these 4250's are crap compared to the 8300HD or even the 3250. Maybe I should return the box and get my money back (purchased) and just take my bro-in-law's spare 3250.

It's interesting that you mentioned that since I've noticed the exact same glitch with my 4250HD box but didn't know if it was just my unit or a more common problem. In my case, I disabled the 720p resolution in the advanced video settings so that all my HD channels are displayed at 1080i and I don't have to wait for my TV to change resolutions as frequently. I don't suppose you purchased your 4250HD box for $100 like I did on boxing day? At that price, I can live with the minor 720p video glitch. It's still a bug that I would like to see addressed, however, if Rogers ever gets around to updating the ancient user interface on their digital boxes.

[Eluder]

Ya, I got the first one just before boxing day, and the replacement was early January. But it was for $100 either way. I should find out if any of my contacts at cable know about this bug or not.

[addp009]

I too have the slow key press delay issue. I don't think it's the placement of the box or anything as I had the 3250hd before and everything was good.

[Bombtrack]

I doubt it's possible but worth asking.

I now have my 4250 outputting audio to my AVR. Before this, I had my 4250 set to display CC when in mute. Now I can't even mute my STB. Is there anyway to get around this?

[alebowgm]

Fixed versus variable audio output in the settings perhaps?

[Angela V]

I currently have one 940SD and two 4250HDs (all paid for_. I find the 940 very slow with the remote. I used to have a 3250HD (rented) and the 4250HDs work faster with the remote. One of my 4250HD boxes has had to be reauthorized twice in the past month. The other one I've not had a problem. I think any box can be glitchy and you just have to hope you get a really good one.

[57]

I had my 4250 set to display CC when in mute

CC on mute only works when you've got the audio settings to "variable" and when you're using analogue audio cables for your audio. It does not work in other instances.

If you have a remote with macro capability, it would be possible to have it control the volume on the AVR or TV and then perform the scroll up function in the quick settings to enable CC when you press the mute button on that programmable remote.

[alebowgm]

Why does CC not work over newer audio cables, such as HDMI? I have never figured that out...

[57]

I assume you meant CC on mute. It's because the variable setting only works on analogue audio cables, as I stated in post 252.

Actually, you could connect via HDMI, enable the variable audio setting and CC on mute and it would work, however, the remote would not mute the signal on the TV/AVR when set up to control the STB - Catch-22, unless you have a macro-capable remote, or mute the TV/AVR separately.

[alebowgm]

No, I do understand that. My question is the broader WHY did that happen. WHY wasn't CC mandatory to work over HDMI and such. Lots of people who are setting up their TVs today want CC and are using the HDMI output on their STB, so howcome it was never setup to work that way in the first place...