You will need to contact someone at Shaw who knows how to configure a STB that was not obtained from them or an authorized distributor - probably a supervisor. They will need to "wipe" the old firmware and put on their firmware.

I'm not sure if Shaw will even do this, but I know that some cable companies will, others will not.

We discussed this issue in the following thread (posts 4, 5, 6). I have no idea why you are "surprised" by this.

http://digitalhomecanada.com/forum/showthread.php?t=25238

 

My previous digital box (a really old one) was originally purchased from Shaw. When we moved to an area that wasn't serviced by Shaw, I had the new cable company add it to their system. Recently we moved back to Shaw and they were able to add it back into the Shaw system.

Perhaps the process with a 6412 is different from the box that I have (or even impossible), but in theory it would seem to be possible.

Steve

 

They were able to add it to their system no problem.

The problem was the actual downloading of data. They sent their signal to the box and it would not respond.

What worries me is the fact I didnt buy it from them or any official retail outlet. They seemed pretty interested in how I came into posession of this unknown box. As if they wouldnt even look at it if it was purchased from the states.

Maybe there is a way to completely reset the box myself? Shaw was pretty clear on the phone that they dont support outside hardware.

 

I seem to recall someone, perhaps down east in Eastlink territory or Cogeco, who did reset their box, totally erasing the firmware, allowing the STB to then download the new firmware. See if you can do a search and find that post. It was a few months back. Good luck. Found one thread...

http://digitalhomecanada.com/forum/showthread.php?t=19087&highlight=firmware+download

 

[UPDATED] Strange problem: 6412 will not communicate with Shaw

Thanks for the link, I found the button sequence but I still am having trouble.

So I now know how to get to the boot menu. I have a few options (hunt, cold, n dl, etc). When I select 'n dl', it flashes "hunt" on the display and then eventually times out. Is this the window where the tech is supposed to try and contact the box?

Is there some other option I am supposed to select in order to wipe the box, or do I just enter "n dl" mode and then let the CSR do the rest of the work?

Thanks.

 

One of the "regular" CSRs is probably not going to be able to help you. You're going to need to find a "second level" or "technical" CSR to assist.

 

I'd be contacting the seller and ask for a replacement or refund, why keep wasting your time and Shaws on something the does not work?

Whats the history on the box you were sold?

 

I already talked to a tech that specializes in HD boxes. He did not give me any info about resetting. He just set up a service call.

I always seem to find out a lot more relevant information on these forums. I thought someone might have had experience in wiping their own unit.

 

American 6412 and Shaw

I am having the same problem with my Comcast 6412 and Shaw. After confirming that any 6412 would work with Shaw, I bought one from the States. (I figured 200 bucks was worth the risk) I had all the serial numbers and Shaw added the box to their system no problem. I did a factory reset and watched it download for about 1 hour. But when it was done...still no picture. Now whats the next step? Do I need a reboot from Shaw's end? Is there anyone out there who was successful in getting their Comcast box to work with Shaw? Tech support at Shaw is useless.

 

try an exchange

Well not sure about the technical side, but have you tried to just exchange the box at the shaw office? I've have swapped modems with them in the past several times and never had an issue. Just say its not working right and there is no picture, they dont need to know its not from them. Its worth the try!

 

And possibly get charged with fraud???

Well not sure about the technical side, but have you tried to just exchange the box at the shaw office? I've have swapped modems with them in the past several times and never had an issue. Just say its not working right and there is no picture, they dont need to know its not from them. Its worth the try!

When they do an exchange they will note it on your account. Once they receive the unit back, and this depends on how 'efficient' their supply chain is, they could identify it as not being a Shaw box.

 

I thought about that now that the machine is "in their system" but i've raised such a stink about the machine not working after they told me it would that I better wait a couple of weeks for them to forget about me. In the mean time I've havent given up on making this thing work.

 

FWIW, and try this at your own risk, a Shaw csr recently told me that to re-initialize the box you need to do the following sequence:

Box off
Select
replay x 3 (i.e. three times)
my dvr x 3
live x 3

I can't vouch for this guy's knowledge, and I haven't had to try this myself, but this is what he told me. If you can't get your box working any other way, then this might be worth a try.

 

On the underside of your 6412 is it labelled a model "6412 / 2000" (like the Shaw ones)? I seem to recall someone saying the 2000 has something to do with the frequency used to communicate with the controller.

 

Buyer Beware - Comcast 6412's are stolen

It has been mentioned on these forums before, but it looks like a reminder is needed. Very few cable companies have 6412's for sale... Shaw is one of the few exceptions.

Comcast only rents these boxes to their customers. If you see someone selling a Comcast 6412 you can be pretty sure it is a stolen unit.

 

Allright...after all the speculations and inputs from different sources (none of them SHAW i am sad to say) I finally got this thing to work so I can vouch that IT IS POSSIBLE TO GET AN AMERICAN COMCAST PVR 6412 TO WORK ON SHAW DIGITAL CABLE. I will add that I live in SASKATCHEWAN. I had to piece the process from different sources so I'll put ALL the steps here for the next guy:

1. Buy a COMCAST MOTOROLA 6412 (ABOUT 150US$...you're allready ahead 500CAN$) I cant vouch for any other kind.

2. Tell SHAW to add your machine to your account. You'll need ALL 3 serial numbers on the machine. UA, CN and GI numbers. If you dont have those numbers on your machine...cant help you...might be used or stolen.

3. Do a total factory reset. This is from a previous post #17. "Hold down the Power and Menu buttons, while continuing to hold them down, remove power to the box, keep holding them down for 45 seconds, keep holding them down and put power back to the box. Now you should see BOOT in the front panel. This is the boot menu, use the channel up/dn to find the n/dl or some other similar indication, make sure you are connected to the cable, hit "select" this should trigger a new download from SHAW to map the channels and update your firmware with theirs." This took about 1 hour for me so be patient. When its done the machine will turn off.

4. At this stage when I turned the TV and PVR back on all I got was "this channel should be available shortly" screen.

5. Leave everything on. Call SHAW and ask them to reset your machine. The PVR will reset and turn off. Turn it back on and voila...

It seems to me a little grainy but I'll play around with it for a bit...I am using 480i and component cables and 47 inch Panasonic HDTV ready TV.

 

Hey everyone,

a quick question, do I need to make sure that shaw has added my GI number to their inventory (step #2) before I perform step #3 and do the factory reset/fireware download?

I've heard it takes a day or so to get it actually added (need to send an email to the warehouse or something).

Just getting excited (and impatient) to see HD on my 52"

Thanks,
Trev

 

On the underside of your 6412 is it labelled a model "6412 / 2000" (like the Shaw ones)? I seem to recall someone saying the 2000 has something to do with the frequency used to communicate with the controller.

Found the post I was thinking of, but it only has the codes for older DCT models:
http://digitalhomecanada.com/forum/showpost.php?p=83582&postcount=2

From my research I did discover that Comcast is distributing 6412/2000 and 6412/2005 subcodes. Don't know what the difference is.

 

Allright...after all the speculations and inputs from different sources (none of them SHAW i am sad to say) I finally got this thing to work so I can vouch that IT IS POSSIBLE TO GET AN AMERICAN COMCAST PVR 6412 TO WORK ON SHAW DIGITAL CABLE. I will add that I live in SASKATCHEWAN. I had to piece the process from different sources so I'll put ALL the steps here for the next guy:

1. Buy a COMCAST MOTOROLA 6412 (ABOUT 150US$...you're allready ahead 500CAN$) I cant vouch for any other kind.

2. Tell SHAW to add your machine to your account. You'll need ALL 3 serial numbers on the machine. UA, CN and GI numbers. If you dont have those numbers on your machine...cant help you...might be used or stolen.

3. Do a total factory reset. This is from a previous post #17. "Hold down the Power and Menu buttons, while continuing to hold them down, remove power to the box, keep holding them down for 45 seconds, keep holding them down and put power back to the box. Now you should see BOOT in the front panel. This is the boot menu, use the channel up/dn to find the n/dl or some other similar indication, make sure you are connected to the cable, hit "select" this should trigger a new download from SHAW to map the channels and update your firmware with theirs." This took about 1 hour for me so be patient. When its done the machine will turn off.

4. At this stage when I turned the TV and PVR back on all I got was "this channel should be available shortly" screen.

5. Leave everything on. Call SHAW and ask them to reset your machine. The PVR will reset and turn off. Turn it back on and voila...

It seems to me a little grainy but I'll play around with it for a bit...I am using 480i and component cables and 47 inch Panasonic HDTV ready TV.

Dude, you should give credit where credit is due. I read your neutral feedback for your 6412 purchase on eBay saying that your box wasn't compatible with your cable system. I took the time to contact you (and provide you with the instructions that you cut and pasted above) so that you could use your box for something other than a doorstop and you didn't even email a thank-you. Instead you just posted "your" results on the forum. That's brutal. Hope you're enjoying your TV, but man, a thank-you would have been appreciated.
boogerman54321 aka sully812

 

damn, i wish I had read your post earlier. I think I messed around with the boot menu a few too many times because now I get stuck in a "hunt" loop everytime I plug it in.

 

Fair enough. But I cant keep track of all your different names. Sorry I vexed your ego. I didnt take credit for reinventing the wheel here. I just wanted to post a straight forward answer to setting-up the box. Something I've yet to find anywhere.

 

Fair enough. But I cant keep track of all your different names. Sorry I vexed your ego. I didnt take credit for reinventing the wheel here. I just wanted to post a straight forward answer to setting-up the box. Something I've yet to find anywhere.

My ego is fine. As for the names, you have my email address. Again, I'm happy you're up and running.

 

DCT6400 series technical manual

damn, i wish I had read your post earlier. I think I messed around with the boot menu a few too many times because now I get stuck in a "hunt" loop everytime I plug it in.

There's a manual for the DCT5100 that explains the boot cycle among other things. It's not current to the 6412 but it should provide some clues.
http://broadband.motorola.com/consumers/products/DCT5100/downloads/DCT5100_Installation_Manual.pdf

Edit: just found the equivalent manual for the 6400 series (even mentions the rumoured 6416).
http://www.midcocomm.com/editable_content/guides_and_forms/DCTGuides/DVR.pdf

 

I have the same problem as you. A FR1...FR10 Loop. The DCT6412/2005 that was destined for Comcast seems to have been set up to recieve a non-standard Out Of Band (OOB) frequency. The FR 1-10 looks for the 10 standard frequencies. Cogeco has a standard OOB of 72.75 which it sends the software down to the Cable Box. If the unit you have is looking for a frequency that your cable provider doesn't send, it will look forever. The question is, once you get into a FR Loop, how can you get out of it. I am not sure there is an answer. My intution and I think it has been stated in this forum already is that the unit firmware must be reloaded by some offline means, probably the USB port since I don't think there is a RS232 port on these units. Now I would think there is that capabliity at Cogeco/Shaw if you can get to it. Cogeco is working on the dual tuner project so they must have that capabilty to load the firmware offline. Anybody here have a cogeco connection???

 

..Edit: just found the equivalent manual for the 6400 series (even mentions the rumoured 6416).
http://www.midcocomm.com/editable_content/guides_and_forms/DCTGuides/DVR.pdf

Nice find!!

 

I got my box activated. Shaw seems to think it was the cables at fault. They came today and replaced the "drop" outside my house. They swapped the box for me and activated it on the spot.

All I have to say is that I am blown away by the picture quality I am now recieving. After today, Shaw has just gone up a few notches as far as Im concerned. I have totally forgotten about their traffic shaping (no hard feelings, Telus is cheaper anyway).

 

If anyone gets a dct6208/2005 with three cable posts (tv/vcr, cable a and cable b) you need to put a cable splitter at the outlet and run both cables to cable a and cable b. Then your box will work. Some comcast units are like this and the providers here have never seen them before! Hope this helps someone. There are dct6412's with the same configuration on the back.

Azmodien: Shaw swapped the box? I thought it was a Comcast 6412. Wow, that's something.