Comcast HDTV and DVR recorders

[edDV]

What irks me most is that Comcast has raised rates for analog customers while cutting the number of analog channels available.

Exactly...and also downgrades the PQ

Comcast absolutely blows and with their shoddy marketing and legal practices are soon to break into the top 10 worst companies in the USA

Looking at the current Comcast rates, it looks like they are beginning to squeeze the extended analog customers to switch to digital (cable boxes) while the government is squeezing them to add value for the basic analog customer (poor folk plus Dish/DirectTV sat subscribers that just want locals).

As I've implied above, I tend to agree with Comcast policy to bias local bandwidth to compressed MPeg channels and away from extended analog. Analog is taking an excessive chunk of the bandwidth. Is there room for compromise? There is with unencrypted QAM but Comcast won't acknowledge that as a Win-Win option.

[Jestak]

Greetings,

Talking about COMCAST. I switched from turner to DirectTV while in NH, moved my DirectTV service to Augusta GA, then switched to COMCAST because DirectTV blew it badly with service. To make a long story short, they installed my antenna to a bad spot, promised an upgrade to HD and they never delivered, I lost the service for 2 weeks, they damaged my landscaping...

I have the tripple play with COMCAST since more than 2 years and I am very happy. Analog channels quality is nice, Digital channels is medium and HD channels are nicer. The only bad things I have to say is the stupid Motorolla HD DVR: Not enough room. And when you need to reach someone to help you resolve an issue (for me, it was that we lost power and they had to reset the Mototolla HD DVR) it takes forever. But DirecTV is the same too. I know, I spent countless hours on their waiting line...

Thank you

[[_chef_]]

By using a different modulation...??

[edDV]

Greetings,...

The only bad things I have to say is the stupid Motorolla HD DVR: Not enough room. And when you need to reach someone to help you resolve an issue (for me, it was that we lost power and they had to reset the Mototolla HD DVR) it takes forever. But DirecTV is the same too. I know, I spent countless hours on their waiting line...

Thank you

Most HD Motorola and SciAtlanta hardware boxes support external drives via eSATA or USB2 but the cable company decides whether to allow it in the downloaded firmware. The recorded data is encrypted to that box but you could in theory add multiple TB of storage.

Be warned that the disk encryption is tied to that specific box and if you miss a cable payment you can't access the data. When they turn you off, they turn it all off.

[jagabo]

I added a 500 GB eSATA drive to my Scientific Atlanta Explorer 8240HDC.

[yoda313]

Most HD Motorola and SciAtlanta hardware boxes support external drives via eSATA or USB2 but the cable company decides whether to allow it in the downloaded firmware. The recorded data is encrypted to that box but you could in theory add multiple TB of storage.

I added a 500 GB eSATA drive to my Scientific Atlanta Explorer 8240HDC

Is there any to find out which ones authorize the addon of harddrives? Is there a website? Mine is a motorola. I would even call in a techsupport to ask but I'd like to know if I got the right number.

Mine is a dch3416 I believe. Got it last fall. It's a dual tuner hd box. I'd love to add a harddrive. Would the firmware be downloaded from the companies website? How would it be installed? A usb flash drive?

[jagabo]

I don't know of any web sites that specifically keep track of eSATA features. You might look for websites with forums for your local cable company. See what other subscribers are finding.

The firmware for the cable box is downloaded from the cable company every time the box goes through a cold boot (ie, power cycle). You have no control over this.

[MozartMan]

Is there any to find out which ones authorize the addon of harddrives? Is there a website? Mine is a motorola. I would even call in a techsupport to ask but I'd like to know if I got the right number.

Mine is a dch3416 I believe. Got it last fall. It's a dual tuner hd box. I'd love to add a harddrive. Would the firmware be downloaded from the companies website? How would it be installed? A usb flash drive?

HDTV Recorders on AVS: http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/forumdisplay.php?f=42

Here is direct link to the thread about Motorola DCH HD DVRs: http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=789805

[edDV]

Don't expect clear logic here. This is Comcast.

Expect customer support to know nothing (depends on last directive) or will they volunteer info? No, ask for manager.

You need to negotiate with a 2nd or 3ird tier guru or threaten change to DirectTV/Dish and mean it. If you have a history of paying >$1000/yr or so ... you might get real info.

Or just experiment. Everyone gets the same firmware anyway.

[yoda313]

@mozart man - thanks for the links.

@ jagabo and eddv - thanks for the info. I did not know the firmware was autoupdated. By coldboot do you mean when you actually unplug the unit and have it cycle on with the flashing clock and stuff?

This is definitely worth experimenting.

Unfortunately I don't have an external esata drive to work with. Do they make usb to esata converters? I have a 160gb external usb harddrive. IF the esata was enabled does the dvr do the formatting or do you have to do that yourself?

[jagabo]

By coldboot do you mean when you actually unplug the unit and have it cycle on with the flashing clock and stuff?

Yes, and they can force a reboot/reload any time they want.

IF the esata was enabled does the dvr do the formatting or do you have to do that yourself?

The cable box will format the drive. Mine only detects the drive on a cold boot.