Edit - 2007.01.24. We now have V1.89 of the firmware and several of the issues have been resolved. Please see the summary post below for details:
http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/showpost.php?p=490742&postcount=63
Here's a list of the issues that the 8000HD had, that the 8300HD (Rogers) resolved, or hasn't yet resolved. I'll add more information as people post their comments. Firmware 2005.02.10 - 1.85.20.3
Better? 1. A "stuttering" or "jittering" when watching programmes with panning from side to side, or up/down - sports like basketball, hockey, auto racing, even nature programmes with fast panning have this problem. Looks like the "frame rate" is only a few frames per second, instead of 30.
Not Resolved 2. Issues with setting up manual recordings . The recordings do not always "take" properly - sometimes you get two recordings or even "weird" additional recording times. Sometimes, the manual recording settings are phantomly deleted, after only one recording even if it's supposed to be a "weekly" recording, etc.
Better/Resolved 3. When a recorded HD programme comes to a fully "black" or fully "white" scene, or credits at the end of a movie, there are audio/video breakups/stuttering. This happens on almost all recorded programmes with "black" or "white" screens. Examples include "Six Feet Under" which has a number of "fade to white" scenes in each episode and has credits at the end that cause these "breakups".
Not Resolved 4. If you set an "all episode" recording from the IPG, edit it to add a few minutes, it'll record this way, properly, the first time - for example set Jay Leno to record from 11:33PM-12:38AM instead of 11:35-12:35, however, after it's recorded this way once, all subsequent recordings go back to the "unedited" 11:35-12:35. You cannot modify this setting after the first time the programme has been recorded either - you must use the "one episode" recording option and programme/edit it once a week.
5. Phantom Recordings, Recordings erased, other recording issues... See the following thread for some recording issues/causes.
http://digitalhomecanada.com/forum/showthread.php?t=18287
Resolved 6. We look forward to a time when the "VCR archiving" function works. See "bug" below in item 31.
Resolved 7. We look forward to a "fuel gauge" that tell us how much space is left on the hard drive for recording.
Resolved 8. We look forward to having "passthrough" and/or "upconvert1/2" available on this STB, similar to the way it is on the SA3250HD (and the new SA8300HD). It's a bit of a pain having to manually change between formats, especially after having used the SA3250HD.
9. We look forward to a time when the firewire ports are activated.
Resolved (HDMI active) 10. We look forward to a time when the DVI/HDMI port is activated.
Not Present 11. We look forward to "easily" being able to add a few minutes to regular recordings, at the front and at the back, for minor programme overruns. It is currently possible to edit recordings to do this, but that's cumbersome and also doesn't "hold" as mentioned in the "bugs", above.
Same Remote 12. On the remote control the "live" button is right above to the FF button. This makes it far too easy to hit the "live" button instead of FF, which means you have to rewind to get back to where you were - very annoying when "pausing live TV". You should mention this "design flaw" to SA.
Partially Resolved (with "in this timeslot" option) 13. If you use the "all episodes" recording option, it'll record every episode of that programme, even if it's a repeat. This means that some shows, which are repeated often each week, get recorded several times a week, instead of once. There should be an option for "every NEW episode", comparing existing recordings to "new" IPG information.
Not Present 14. Although you can stop watching a recording and go back to the same position later to "resume from current location". You cannot do this if you go to a "different" recording in the meantime. You can only "resume" the last programme you watched. (On a VCR, I would have simply reinserted the tape and it would resume where I left off - I can't see why the firmware can't include a "tag" on each recording, rather than only the "last" recording watched?)
Not Resolved 15. If you record a program and then start watching it part of the way through (by rewinding to the beginning - the only way with older firmware), when the program finishes recording you are automatically returned to "live" TV. This is very annoying. I'm engrossed in a show when, out of nowhere, I'm now watching something completely different. Going back into the show to find where it left off, means you have to FF to that spot – very time-consuming if it’s a long programme.
A workaround is to extend the recording time when you first press the record button. That way you will be able to "catch up" before the recording ends. Another possible workaround is to tune to the channel that you're recording before you view the recording. This MAY prevent you from getting "kicked out".
Not Present 16. Other nice features would be things like "seasons pass", searching for actors or themes, etc.
Resolved - by inference. STB shows "output format" - if you enable all formats and use passthrough, input = output, similar to SA3250HD. If you go into the diagnostics, one of the last pages shows the input format 17. A display of the inputformat (i.e. 1080i, 720P, 480i/p)
Not Resolved, need to hit "play", then "jump back" 18. If you hit the "jump back 10 seconds" button directly from FF, the next time you press FF, you will get the "next speed" rather than the first FF speed (4X). As though the STB "remembers" the previous FF speed. Any intervening actions will likely "reset" the FF speed.
Not Present 19. The HDD currently leaves "some space" when it stops recording scheduled programmes. Some people would like the option to have the HDD fill completely, even if it means you don't have a "buffer" when you turn on the unit - it gives you this "warning". (I don't see this as a big issue actually)
Resolved 20. EuroNews video freezes when recording another digital channel.
New Issues:
21. If you select the "this time slot" option, you're only allowed one identical programme on that channel per day. If the programme is on again on the same day and if you try to record it also, using the "this time slot" option, the first schedule will be deleted. I noticed this when I had the unit set to record Daily Planet at 12PM, then set another for 7PM. The 12PM one was deleted and supplanted with the 7PM one.
22. There is no "weekly" option for recordings (unless you use the manual recording)
23. Power Save Mode shutting down unit at inconvenient times? (around 1:10AM) This happens if the unit is "on". This doesn't seem to affect recordings at that time, if the unit is "off".
If you press a button while watching, then the unit no longer goes into powersave. (Resolved)
24. The remote seems to have a very minor "lag" before the unit does what you ask.
25. Numerous reports of Pixellation (not macroblocking). Still attempting to ascertain if there's a "pattern". (Rogers has admitted there is an issue and that they are working on it.)
Issue Resolved
26. If you have recording "conflicts" (3 recordings at the same time due to an "all episode" or "this timeslot" scheduled recording) the unit will not advise you of the conflict and you may lose one, or more recordings.
27. If you press "Stop" when watching a previously recorded programme, the unit will "start" again after 5 minutes - perhaps a "screen saver". Use the "pause" button instead - it'll stay paused for 1 hour.
Resolved 28. You can now change channels when in the guide and the guide will stay on and you'll remain on the original channel. (This used to change channels and kick you out of the guide).
29. After FF, there may be a brief time that there is audio, but no video movement while the unit "synchs" the sound and video. Good news is that the sound is not out of synch, unless the problem is "upstream".
30. Occasionally you may not be able to add a new recording - the IPG item will not turn red and there will not be a new scheduled recording. Usually a reboot will solve the issue. I usually wait an hour or so after the reboot to ensure more of the IPG information has downloaded.
31. When using the Copy to VCR function, do not watch another prerecorded programme. If you do, the audio to the VCR will "stop", when you stop the other prerecorded programme...
Other Comments:
- buttons on front of unit seem "cheap".
- unit can output in HD and SD (S-video for example) at the same time.
- the HDD now shuts down completely a while after you turn the unit off, it is completely quiet.
See the following Tips & Tricks for the STB:
http://digitalhomecanada.com/forum/showthread.php?t=17749
