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Post by Hankster on Feb 5, 2004 18:24:19 GMT -5
I picked up the 8000 DVR today at 3:30pm from my Rotterdam office. I called this morning and a rep said he would ship me a box via UPS or I could have a TWC installer bring one to my home. I asked if I could pick it up myself at the Rotterdam office and he checked, they had a shipment in. I brought them my 3250 back. This box is much larger than the 3250, wider and deeper. My 8000 doesn't have the firewire ports but it does have DVI and in addition to coax it has an optical digital out. I hooked up the 8000 and watched some NHL on HDnet (replay). Picture is fabulous, just like the 3250. One thing is that channel surfing is slower, the picture change isn't as fast as with the 3250 box. I've been told that it is from the DVR drive. I paused live TV including HD, performance was very good, getting back to live TV was a snap. I have started to play with the recording functions. I recorded some of the NHL game on HDnet and played it back. Picture was right on. If there is a difference it isn't my much on my 46" display. I will continue to learn more about this new HD box from TWC tonight. Those that have them coming will be very happy when you receive them.
Later
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Post by Hankster on Feb 5, 2004 23:16:34 GMT -5
The one feature in the settings menu that is not on the 8000 DVR is the video pass-through that was available on the 3250. Did some more recording and I'm getting use to the recording set up menu. It is very easy to navigate but takes time getting use to the slower commands compared to the 3250. This is my first time having a DVR.
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Post by slayerav on Feb 6, 2004 10:37:15 GMT -5
Any idea if the DVI is enabled or not? Even though TWC has said it isn't, I don't always trust what the CSRs say.
When you say it is much larger than the 3250, is it larger in all dimensions?
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Post by Hankster on Feb 6, 2004 10:52:50 GMT -5
Unfortunately my Mitsubishi 46805 doesn't have DVI. When Skaggs gets his he can be more helpful due to his display having DVI. The dimensions are mostly larger in width & depth.
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Post by Skaggs on Feb 6, 2004 17:34:20 GMT -5
I stopped by the Schenectady TWC building on Highbridge Road this afternoon and turned in my 3250HD and got a 8000HD DVR...no questions asked. They gave it to me still packed in the Sci Atl cardboard box. On the way back to the office, I called TWC and cancelled my appointment for them to drop the 8000HD off at my house next week.
By the way, there is a brunette that works behind the desk at the Highbridge Road office that is gorgeous!
I'll hook it up after I finish snowblowing my driveway and let everyone know if the DVI port is active or not.
I have two Series 2 TiVo's and I can compare the 8000HD to the TiVo.
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Post by Hankster on Feb 6, 2004 18:28:06 GMT -5
Skaggs,
Does yours have Firewire ports? I have read over at the AVS Forum that some do.
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Post by Skaggs on Feb 6, 2004 19:21:34 GMT -5
Skaggs, Does yours have Firewire ports? I have read over at the AVS Forum that some do. Nope. No fire wire ports. On page 6 of the User's Installation Guide, it shows 2 ports, but there are none on my box. It says "optional" in the description of the ports. I wonder what the size of the hard disk is? |
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Post by Hankster on Feb 6, 2004 21:03:58 GMT -5
I was wondering also. I just watched Ghost Ship, I recorded it late last night on HBO HD. It was my first time seeing it. The movie itself was alright but the transfer was superb. I noticed a few audio drop-outs in the beginning and at the end credits. Maybe they were there during the broadcast, I don't know.
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Post by Skaggs on Feb 6, 2004 22:29:40 GMT -5
There is a 160GB hard drive in the Albany TWC 8000HD DVR's.
According to bdenman at the AVS Forum, DVR is a 160GB Maxtor which should give about 20hours max of HD recording time (just under 9GB/hour).
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Post by slayerav on Feb 7, 2004 8:49:57 GMT -5
Skaggs: Any idea on the DVI status?
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Post by Skaggs on Feb 8, 2004 12:05:19 GMT -5
Skaggs: Any idea on the DVI status? I finally got a chance to hook the DVI cable up to the back of the 8000HD DVR this morning. No output at all from the 8000HD DVR via DVI.Right before I started to hook up the DVI, I noticed that there were four dashes "----" displaying on the 8000HD screen where the time normally displays. The power would not turn on. I called TWC and she sent a "hit" to the box. The time immediately displayed. She said she would make a note of the problem, because they are logging all issues with the 8000HD DVR's. BTW, I am watching The Lion King right now, which played on ABC last night. The picture is fabulous and the sound is incredible. Too bad those anti-TWC HD users weren't able to enjoy it. Besides the lack of DVI support, I have yet to find any problems with the 8000HD DVR. Two minor issues are: 1. You cannot set a "season pass" like on a TiVo. For example, I set the 8000HD DVR to record Sex in the City on HBO HD, but it records ALL the episodes shown including the repeats, not just the new ones. With TiVo, I can set it to record only the "first run" of each episode. 2. It does not record HD programs OTA via my STB. I would like to be able to record the HD versions of the shows on CBS & NBC (when WNYT does remember to "flip the switch" and pass through the HD version of the program). Hopefully, in time, TWC, WNYT, and WRGB will come to an agreement to show the HD programming on TWC. |
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Post by Hankster on Feb 8, 2004 13:41:39 GMT -5
I'm going to watch the Lion King later on. Can't wait to see what it looks like. I'm also interested to see if Pearl Harbor will be shown in OAR on ABC tonight.
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Post by kia303 on Feb 9, 2004 19:56:28 GMT -5
When I was speaking with the TWC CSR today about lowering my cable bill Iasked her about why I did not receive a response from TWC when I preregistered for the 8000DVR, the CSR told me that there is a waiting list of approx. 600 customers. I was informed that approx. 1,000 subscribers signed up for the box. Guess I will have to wait to enjoy this feature.
Kurt
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Post by Lufters on Feb 9, 2004 21:51:30 GMT -5
When I was speaking with the TWC CSR today about lowering my cable bill Iasked her about why I did not receive a response from TWC when I preregistered for the 8000DVR, the CSR told me that there is a waiting list of approx. 600 customers. I was informed that approx. 1,000 subscribers signed up for the box. Guess I will have to wait to enjoy this feature. Kurt I never signed up on a list. Yesterday I decided I wanted a 8000-HD DVR...so I went to the TWC office on Washington Ave. today and picked one up (exchanged my 3250) with no problems what so ever. I'm using the box right now and it works great. I also called them on Sunday to see if there were any available...the rep told me I had to go to the Rotterdam office since Washington Ave office were out of them. Since my work is only like 2 minutes away from the Washington Ave office I decided to stop to see if they had any just for the hell of it...and sure enough they had plenty of them. TWC are so clueless!! |
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Post by kia303 on Feb 9, 2004 22:26:34 GMT -5
UNBELIEVABLE, or should I say that figures, more incorrect info from TWC. You know it is amazing how little some people know about their respective jobs, if I performed like some of these people I would be unemployed. However, I guess it is not just TWC, look at the HD issue with WNYT or NBC. I can't believe all the mileage that these companies get from their HD advertisements and then screw up the process in getting it to the consumer.
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