Another set of first impressions of the (Comcast) Motorola dual tuner HD DVR

I'm hearing a lot of good things about the Motorola dual tuner HD DVR that Comcast is rolling out across the country. Here are designer James Duncan Davidson's first impressions of the unit and he posted a screenshot of the unit in action.

Comments

[Rich]

Here's my first impression: I made an appointment with Comcast to have my single-tuner DVR replaced with one of these new dual tuner jobbies. They were supposed to come yesterday (Sunday) between 5pm and 7pm. The guy showed up at 11:15pm. By the time he was done, I was too tired to play with it (other than to set it to display the time on the LED screen). I guess my second impression (when I get home tonight) will have to do. It would have been nice if Comcast had called to tell me they'd be late. I guess when you have a monopoly, you don't have to be polite to your customers...

[Tom Clancy]

The coolest thing was we were getting all the pay movie channels for free up until this afternoon.

[Bryan Young]

Not that it matters for this discussion, but James Duncan Davidson is a *Software* Designer.

[Matt Haughey]

That still makes the statement that he's a designer correct, right?

[Kurt]

Does anyone know which markets Comcast is rolling out this DVR in? I called my local comcast office (Alexandria, VA) and they said they have no plans to carry the motorola - did I just talke to a dumb rep?

[Geoff Brown]

I think some Comcast markets carry the Scientific American version of the DVR cable box. Maybe yours is one of them.

[comtech]

Per the Comcast intra-net, some markets are carrying the SA version that is supposed to have dual tuners. Now that the Motorola box is out they state (as of Nov 10) that they expect availability to 100% of the Comcast footprint by the end of 2004. This said, what we have actually seen is that there has been limited rollout of these boxes. As for Alexandria, VA looks like they are using the SA box.

[Tom Jordahl]

I just spoke to my Massachusetts Comcast agent and set up my appointment for Thursday. He said that the 2-tuner DVR is now available across the entire Mass. region.

[J. Trinidad]

I was notified by Comcast that DVR was now available in Sonoma County and I made arrangements for both my digital cable boxes to be upgraded to the new 120 gig, dual tuner Motorola DCT6412. Two Comcast techs came out first thing in the morning on 12/22 and swaped out my units and fired up both with ease. There is a about a 45 minute interval while the box downloads guide info. According to the installers I was the 2nd install they had ever done with this item so they were learning like I was about it's capabilities. I found the guide and the remote very intuitive, I especially liked the PIP and Swap features. The next day I had Comcast return and replace one of the boxes because the DVR was only showing one tuner. Once that was done all was well with that particular box. I had Comcast come out again and replace my other unit due to a "freezing glitch" I was getting. I would be watching a program and for no reason the image would freeze. Changing channels would unfreeze the tuner/buffer, but that was hardly a solution. Replacing the unit seemed to solve the problem but the last few days the problem has returned. So unforturnately, on several recordings it failed to complete the program due to this "freezing" issue. One other annoying issue is conflict messages popping up when programing recordings, while you can record 2 programs while watching a playback, and swap between recordings, sometimes the unit will refuse a comand to record due to a time conflict where no conflict exsists! I have yet to get this resolved but having never had a DVR before, I am none the less thrilled at features available to me vs. VCR recording. $9.95/month per unit is a lot better than buying a stack of VHS tapes every couple of weeks, and a lot less clutter. The image is excellent, I am using the Component video out to feed my Sony TVs, and the Composit video to feed one of my VCR's and the S-video to feed another VCR. There is also DVI and USB2 available if you are a HDtv person! By the way, I was able to split the RCA audio outputs of the box with no problem. There is even a card reader and RCA inputs on the front of the unit built in for future Comcast features.

[brett]

Just got the new 6412 box on Sunday and I am very impressed. For someone used to DirecTivo's agonizing wait times for the most mundane of functions, the instant response to commands is a huge relief. The HD picture is great in 1080i on my infocus projector. And the price is right -- $10/month and no upfront fee. DirecTV is going to lose a lot of subscribers who have HDTV sets to this box -- why pay for the Directv equipment when Comcast will give it to you for free? And who would pay $1000 for an HD Tivo now? This thing is a dream.

[John Plumley]

I was recently given a Sharp Aquos as a gift, and was extremely excited about hooking up HDTV, until I realized my choices. Being a DirecTivo guy, I couldn't bear the thought of spending the $1000 for the HD Tivo. As Comcast has been my enemy for the fact that they monopolize the sports channels here in Philly, I was suprisingly eager to try out their HDTV and PVR. The price is right. My appointment is tomorrow morning, and I was too excited to find out what box I was getting. I hope it is the dual tuner version, as anyone who has DirecTivo knows, is a must.

[Geoff Brown]

I got my 6412 box this past Friday, and it's great. The menu is much, much better than the 6408, and I really dig having the "Record a Series" option -- no more guessing whether a favorite show is on a "special night." Also great is being able to watch something else while recording another show. Also, I had lamented the lack of a "counter" on the 6408, and the 6412 now has one -- when you're watching something you've recorded, or even Live TV that you've paused, you can tell where you are in terms of how much time is left, etc.

And it seems that they've improved the reception on analog channels a great deal. Of course they're not going to look as good as the digital or HD channels, but they look quite a bit better than the previous HD boxes I've had.

The only downside is that my On Demand isn't working properly with the new box, so a tech is coming back out this week to look into it. I don't know if this is a widespread problem, a lone bum box, or just a crappy cable connection (the last part I doubt, as the TV picture is just fine, and the internet connection is humming along just fine as well).

Otherwise, I'm quite happy, and really pleasantly surprised that the price is still the same $9.95 I was paying for the one-tuner. It's still less than what you'd pay to Tivo as a subscription fee, and it records two shows at once, and in HD, if you want it to, and you don't have to buy anything.

[Pooter]

Hey all,

I got the Motorola DCT6412 a few weeks ago now. I tell you I've had nothing but problems with it. This is actually my second unit. The first worked for about 3 hours froze up 4 times in 1 hour then completely died; never to power up again. I had Comcast come out and replace the unit. This one keeps locking up. I went into the diagnostic menu and noted the firmware version 7.11. Just about a week ago, I checked it again and found the firmware is now 9.12

It doesn't freeze quite as often now but still locks up frequently. I say about 10 times daily. I make sure it has plenty of ventilation so thermo isn’t a problem.

Has anyone heard of drivers for the firewire ports for file transfers yet?

[garmotex]

i'm having the same problem -- the "freezing" issue, and i have to say it's pretty frustrating. i've had problems with this box since day one, which was 9 days ago. actually, i'm on my second box now. the first had a problem where if i was recording two programs at once and i was watching it, it would freeze up, in which I would have to do the "change-the-channel" fix to correct it, but that means I had to cancel my recording and lose whatever amount of that program it had already recorded. so i called comcast, they sent out a signal which seemed to have corrected it, but then it would shut down and restart all on its own...so they replaced it.
so they had a guy come in to replace it. now this new one freezes while just watching tv, in which, again, i have to do the "change-the-channel" fix to get it working. and sometimes, i'll turn on the box and i'll get "..program avaiable shorty"...but it'll never come up, unless i change the channel. it'll also freeze up while recording two programs, so i have to kill one. and i also noticed that some programs i record don't have the entire time slot recorded...which i'm assuming is due to the freezing issue.
so another tech came and increased the signal to my box...nonetheless, i still have the same problems.
has anyone had a tech do/say something useful??? i don't want to get rid of it b/c i just bought an hdtv bu this is getting ridiculous!

[Charlie]

I just got off the phone with Comcast support. They are aware of the "locking" issue on both the DVR and straight HD boxes. She told me they are working on a fix that will be downloaded onto the boxes.

Charlie

[J. Trinidad]

Charlie, I hope your right about the glitches you mentioned but I wouldn't hold my breath.

I've got about 22 hours on my Comcast Dual tuner DVR and I'm at almost 80 percent full, I thought 160 gig was good for 60 hours analog recording...anyone else notice?

[Desi100]

I am having the same freezing problems with my Dual-Tuner DVR as well. Very annoying problem. Hope that fix is coming soon.

[John L.]

I've had the 6412 for about a week now and I love everything except the locking up problem.
I was recording 24 last night and it stopped after 25 minutes. Argggg! My firmware is 9.12 as well. I do hope they are going to fix this.

John

[J. Weber]

I'm in the SF Bay Area and I just got my Comcast dual tuner DVR this last Thursday. I too am having the "freezing" problem. It is completely intermittent, but it averages about 4 or 5 times an hour. Total show stopper. When it works, I really like the thing, but....

I just called Comcast and they are well aware of the problem. The girl I talked to said that it will be 4-6 weeks before they have it resolved. I'm a firmware engineer, and the only way I would say 4-6 weeks is if I didn't know what the problem is.

I'm getting the old regular cable box for now. I'll keep an eye here to see when these things have gotten more reliable. Very disappointing. Once they get these bugs worked out, I think it will be worth the wait, though.

Although, if I could go buy a dual tuner Tivo right now for a reasonable price, I'd probably just go do it.

[garmotex]

I have one 1446 that works and one that doesn't, so not all of them are dysfunctional. i got the
bad one replaced with a 1439 and it works great. finally!!!

[Tom]

I have a Dual Tuner HD DVR from Comcast and am very frustated with the freezing issue. I certaintly hope a fix in the works. I love just about everything else.

[Ron]

I have now replaced two of these damn boxes and I am on my third. All of them have the "freezing channels" problem, including the one I have just replaced.

I love the box, but they need to resolve this issue fast!

[Desi100]

Just a temporary fix for everyone here. I have noticed that the HD channels do not freeze also the higher number channels (above 100).

[Stephanie]

I have had comcast digital for over 2 years,im so used to the guide,i cant"not"have it but I have been calling andd complaining for 2 years, I pay extra for the whole package because I want all the "on demands " but they havent workwed right in over 2 years now,
my picture always freezes in the middle of a movie and I get spinning squares and it cuts off by it self or I get all kinds of error codes like video failure etc, and sometimes the list of movies you read just dissapears when you go on it or my box will freeze and I cant even turn the channel, I haveto unplug, and I get big pink snowy static bars going across it and a lots of other stuff they have changed boxes replaced the drop line etc it probably works 50% of the time and I love it when it works, they keep coming out and telling me that my readings are all "perfect" and nothings wrong and I call to much so I started takink picture of the sreen with all the error codes and camcording it when it isnt working(sometimes it wont work all day)(and I have about 100 pics of erreor codes , pink bars, spinning squares etc,) and I called them again and showed them all of this(they basically acted like I was lieing in the past)so now they said they know what the problem is(again.lol)and they will fix,but I dont think they know there hear from there.....;) out here, has anybody else had this problem or know what it is and how to resolve it

[Jenn]

I have the freezing problem too...it sucks and I am thinking of switching to DirecTV...Might cost more but at least it works! If they don't get this fix soon they are going to lose a lot of customers.

[Mike]

The first DVR unit I had was freezing many times a day. Eventually, the picture was lost entirely and the DVR displayed "dl" with a rotating bar. I exchanged the unit two days ago and haven't had the freeze problem with the new one, however, today I lost the picture again with the "dl" display. Does anyone know if this is an error message or an indication of a software download in-process?

[HD-Fool]

I have what may be a dumb question. I just ordered Comcast HD/DVR, which Comcast is telling me will come from a DCT6208 box. If that is a single-tuner STB, how will I get my non-HD channels? Please don't tell me I need 2 STBs, and will have to switch between video inputs on my t.v.

TIA.

[michael]

I had my 6412 tuner installed last week. Is anyone having problems using the DVI to HDMI TV video connection? The color changes to "BLUE" when switching between channels (HD or regular). And the only way to get around this is to unplug the 6412 power.
NBC channel was freezing last week, but it has disappeared.

thanks

[Confusall ed in Chicago]

They came to install my DVR and said I didn't have enough plugs in the back of my TV to install. I need three outlets for video and two for audio. Has anyone else experienced this? The technician said I could go to radio shack and purchase an adaptor for my TV.

[Eric G]

I love my new Comcast/Motorola 6412! I am filling up the hard drive however. Has anybody tried to connect an external hard drive or a connection to a computer? Would like to know if it can be done and how!

[Samuel]

I have the 6412 no problems I love it on my HDTV widescreen

[Clarence]

I do not know how to display the time, does anyone know how?

[Scanner]

Box has not froze in last couple of days. Does anybody now if they fixed the problem.

[Scanner]

Time: Menu-->Setup-->Cable box setup-->Change to display time

[garmotex]

anyone know if the 6412 can be configured to decode over-the-air broadcasts? or any way at all to get them?

[Joyce]

How do you split the RCA audio? I want to be able to listen through TV speakers most times and then switch to Surround system for movies. Comcast says you can only do one or the other unless you physically change the cables!!!

[JTrinidad]

Joyce,

I split the RCA audio using "piggyback" jacks, they have a female RCA jack behind the Male plug, but you can always use a good ole "Y" adaptor too.

[jack]

FYI, took me forever to find setup. Go to main menu ( not quick menu) then use PAGE DOWN to find it.

[Joe]

I've had the Motorola dual-tuner HD DVR box from Comcast for about three months now. I had some freezing/tiling issues at first, but Comcast was able to fix it after about 3-4 visits. They finally admitted is was "an area-wide issue." Picture quality on HD programming is excellent on my Toshiba 51" HDTV. I use a DVI/HDMI converter cable for video. Digital (non-HD) programming is decent, but analog programming is unwatchable. I actually bypass the box and use the tv's cable tuner for analog. There is only one set of RCA audio outs, so to split them I use a 4-way splitter/amplifier from Radio Shack ($44.95) I can't hear any audio quality degradation on my set or my DVD recorder. The DVR works fine. It doesn't have all the bells and whistles that Tivo does, like thumbs up/down, but it's adequate, especially at a cost of $5/month compared with a grand for DirecTV.

[Bob]

When I replaced the HD 6208 with the dual 6412 I was very pleased with record performance. My only issue is the missing double punch feature on the new box to show "Listings by Channel" On the new box there are several screens to get through to see this very useful feature. In the old box simply hitting Listings twice would show a given channel's shows and scroll foward in time. To see favorite channel for the rest of the week this is ideal and is quite buried with the new software.

Comparing the Motorola functions to that of my Tivo and Replay I much prefer the screen refresh time here to the manner that Tivo asks to "Please Wait" when a recording is set up. When the Comcast/Tivo software upgrade package is offered I will choose not to "downgrade"!

[Tyler]

Finally, I have found the IEEE-1394 drivers. YAY!

http://replayguide.sourceforge.net/dct6412/motorola6412_firewire.zip

[Eric]

I have a Comcast Dual tuner DVR (Motorola 6412) and am looking into getting a DVD Recorder to record stuff that I have saved on My DVR. Is this possible? And what do I need to do it if it is possible? Any help is appreciated.

[Nimh]

I have the motorola dual tuner model and I am desperate for help. The cable is coming into the Coaxial IN of the cable box. The RCA Video/Audio out are coming out of the cable box into the RCA VIdeo/Audio In of the TV. (ex. Video 1). The VCR has the Coaxial out of the VCR going into the Coaxial in of the TV. Here the problem ,I want to still record on the VCR also but these connections won't let me that the comcast guy did. There is RCA audio out from the TV but not a RCA Video out to put these into the RCA in of the VCR. How to I connect this up to be able to record Cable onto the VCR? Also how do you get into the cable box's diagnostic setup area?

Thanks for any help

[Veronica]

I have the same problem as the above person. I actually have a dvd/vcr recorder and the only way it works is when i hook it up to my dvd recorder side so I can't do anything with my vcr. As a matter of fact my box was just installed today about 9 hours ago and now it doesn't work at all. I have every channel comcast offers and as soon as 7 hours passed and I switched from on demand to regular programming I realized I have no starz, hbo, cinemax....I called comcast and they reset my box which actually broke it and now I have to wait 2 days without cable until I can go trade it in (probably for another piece of S### box). That wasn't the worst part. The worst was when my fiance turned the box over and saw "BAD" in black marker written on the back of the dvr box from comcast. I wish I could afford Tivo dvd/dvr but until then I am stuck putting up with Comcast.

[Joe]

OK, I don't know if I understand the RCA A/V questions clearly, but I can definitely try. I have successfully done it. Coaxail from the wall to the cable box, RCA Out from box to RCA In to VCR. Then, you can either do coaxail Out from VCR to TV, or RCA plugs out from VCR to TV. The rest should be self explanitory.

[cornelius]

has anyone connected the box (6412) to a computer to download the programs yet? if so, how? please help!!!

[JANET]

I HAVE THE DIGITAL HD BOX THAT IS SUPPOSED TO BE SO FANTASTIC. I HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS. IN INE YEAR I HAVE HAD 5 BOXES. I GOT A HD TV IN JULY AND THEY CAME OUT TO HOOK CABLE TO IT AND HAVE HAD 4 TECHS OUT SINCE THE END OF JULY. I HAVE THE FREEZINF SCREEN, THE LITTLE BLOCKS, LOOSING THE SOUND AND I HAVE CALLED THEM AND EMAILED THEM AND TODAY, I HAVE NO PICTURE AT ALL.
I TOLD THEM THIS WAS THE LAST STRAW AND THAT I WAS CONTACT SOME CONSUMER GROUP AND BETTER BUSINESS. FOR THE AMOUNT OF MONEY BEING CHARGE, THIS IS CRAZY. THEN, THEY TRIED TO SELL ME THEIR OTHER SERVICES LIKE I WOULD BE INTERESTED AFTER ALL THIS AGRIVATION. THEY REALLY DON'T SEEM TO CARE. THIS IS COMCAST IN BENSALEM, PA.

[Rick]

We have had the motorola recorder box for almost 9 months now and we have had only one problem with it. That involved losing a couple of recorded shows that it would not start playing from the beginning. Other than that all has been well. What i would like to understand better would be how I could transfer some of the saved shows over to my computer. The box seems to have a variety of options for doing something like this via USB, firewire, etc. but there isn't any documentation I can find to do something like this. Can anyone point me in the right direction?
Thanks.

[Brian]

I have recently hooked up a comcast digital cable box for my parents. now we cannot use the vcr properly. the instructions had us run the cable from the wall into the digital box, a coaxial cable from the digital box to input of the vcr, and a coaxial cable from the vcr to the tv. now, i cannot program anything to record through my vcr - what can i do? if i record on the vcr, even if a set a certain channel to record, all i get is whatever channel i am viewing on the digital box. for example, let's say that i have programmed my vcr to record on channel 3. if while the recording is taking place, i am watching channel 5 and then change to channel 6, the vcr's recording follows my flipping from channel to channel. the tv we have been told must stay on channel 4, so i have changed the output of the vcr to coincide with channel 4. in the past, the tv and vcr were set for 3. PLEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEASE help.

[Jeff Wilhelm]

To reply to the question about the "dl" text on the screen of the Motorola cable box... yes.

After plugging in the Motorola box you will see the following appear on the front panel LED display: HUNT, Fr 1. The search may stop at FR 1 or continue in the following sequence; HUNT, Fr 2, HUNT, Fr 3, and so on thru Fr 10. The DCT is checking for a data channel with information that will allow it to identify and synchronize itself to the cable operators’ system as well as download the latest operating software.

Once the DCT locates the channel, you’ll see the LED change to a spinning progress indicator and the letters DL which means that the download process in underway. This process may take up to 45 minutes (or longer if the cable company is experiencing high demand). As long as the progress indicator continues to spin, the download is progressing. After the download is complete, the LED display will read EF and then FP, both may display for up to 60 seconds. After this, the LED display will go blank. This indicates that the download was successful and the box is now ready.

[The Chad]

I have the 6412 III, and recently got an hdtv w/ an hdmi to dvi cable, along with a full surround sound setup using optical cable. The biggest irritation for me is the fact that I can only get digital surround sound out of one tuner. I can have both tuners on the same channel, and only one will be digital (audio) while the other will be stereo. Any way around this?

[cl bay]

Comcast claims no dual tuners available in DFW/Irving, TX area.

Too bad you have to watch what you are recording.

Comcast appears to be bush league.

[Dude]

alright i was watching tv and then all of a sudden my tv frozen and i couldn't shut off the cable box off and it completly reset itself and my dvr is now gone, I can no longer use dvr and I don't know how to fix it. Anyone have any suggestions???????

[Frank]

I have seen a lot of posting regarding copying from the DVR to pc. I have installed the above drivers but still need guidance on getting the files to my pc. I have installed the driver but don't know where to go from there.

[henry]

I have had about 10 6412 boxes in two years. Had all the problems mentioned. Unplugging box solves many but when that starts, it's only a matter of time before a new box is needed.

[Bill Gullett]

I taped a couple of movies and the audio was all garbled but picture was perfect. They came out and installed a new box. Next day the picture started hanging up and I was unable to change channels. Comcast said to disconnect set which worked for a while but it is happening again. They are coming out again in two days to work on it. Said it was due to a weak signal. I only found out by rreading these blogs that there was a clock on the 6412. No service man ever told up and we are still waiting for Comcast to give us the Motorola service manual. One service man did tellus how to enable/disenable closed caption on the box when in Component mode. He said that is something that is not even in the manual.

[mark richter]

how do you use the front rca jacks and the usb port on the front of the motorola dual tuner dvr????????? anyone help?????????

[ron brabbin]

I have a new Sony 40 in lcd flat screen HD tv and a Motorola DVR dual tuner box. when changing from regular cable channel to a HI definition channel, the picture goes off but the sound stays. I have to turn the tv off and back on to get a hd channel. I had 2 new Sony 40" tv's, 3 hdmi cables and 4 Motorola DVR's. I had Comcast, but now have Time Warner. Sony say's the problem is the Motorola DVR. Time Warner customer service does not have the courtesy to answer my letter mailed to them.

[John]

I got a "new" Comcast DVR Motorola Duel Tuner/HTTV Capable Box. I was able to record and playback shows for about 5 days. Then I received the message, "DVR service is not available or is currently disabled. Call your Cable operator."

I swapped out 2 DVR boxes. The Comcast tech swapped out 2 boxes. The problem remains.

Anyone have a clue?

[chet]

how do you turn off the CC when in component mode?

[mixerjt]

Just recently acquired the 6412 III.
After a few days, the parental locks activated itself.
Is there a factory reset code?
Anyone figure out how to access all premium channels w/o a subscription?
Thanks for any help.