DVR-520H Tuner Issue

[phlow]

Hi all - first post, so bear with me.

I have a DVR-520H which i bought in Japan in 12/04. Recording functions , everything seems to work fine, and i have no issues with the HD size. Was already set to multi-region when i bought it, plays US DVD's fine (which is all I care about)

I have just moved back to the US and want to use this system with my Adelphia Digital Cable. (Digital Cable w HD).

my question revolves around the tuner section of this machine and the programming / firmware of how it behaves. on my system , when i go to do initial channel programming under the initial setup options, it gives me option to choose (Singapore, Thailand, Philipines, or OTHERS). if i select "Others" when it goes to autotune to the channels, it doesnt find anything, other than one or two very fuzzy channels that look like they are almost coming via over VHF to my cable terminals.

i do not get a menu option to select antenna / cable, as illustrated in the PDF manual online at the pioneer site. my menu tree options are TUNER==>AUTO/MANUAL==>SINGAPORE/THAILAND/PHILIPINES/OTHER.

it goes through a 5 - 10 minute auto tuning cycle up through channel 700 or so. but ultimately it doesnt really find my cable channels. so in order to record from cable, i have to actually change channels on my cable STB and leave it tuned to that channel and then set the timer on the DVR-520H. cant really use the tuner in the DVR at all, not to mention VCR+ or guide channels. (it does record fine using this method, just i am missing a lot of the convenience and functionality. i have cable running into the STB and then from the STB to the DVR).

i am wondering from this description , if anyone who is more familiar with this machine, can tell whether :
- I have a south east asia or other special regional version of the hardware?
- I have an outdated or different firmware?
- The machine is soft programmed to behave like a south east asian machine?

and what my options are to resolve? I've read some of the procedures with service remotes / service manuals, and the special initializaiton DVD. Is there anyway with these tools to change the regional programming of the box?

I appologize for the lengthy post, but if anyone can help me get going, I would greatly appreciate it.

[DeepOne]

I think there is something different about your machine. Mine does not have the SINGAPORE/THAILAND/PHILIPINES/OTHER option. I don't know how that would affect its operation in the US though.

From your description, I'm wondering if your connection method could be causing your problem. The RF output of many cable boxes will only have a signal on channel 3. The connection you have described would make your DVR's tuner useless except for channel 3, and it would be entirely dependent on the cable box for changing channels.

Assuming you do have analog cable channels available in your cable feed (the DVR's tuner cannot handle digital channels), try connecting the cable from the wall to the DVR first, and then from the DVR to your cable box. This may allow you to use the DVR's tuner for analog cable channels. You can also use the composite or s-video outputs of your cable box to connect to one of the DVR's line inputs. This will allow you to record digital channels through the line input.