3412 set top box set up questions

Kevm · 07-13-2006, 08:49 AM

Hello, just got my DCT3412 (comcast) yesterday. The tech that installed it was a nice enough guy, but an obvious box jockey with no idea whatsoever of how the thing should be set up. So I want to ask the pros here for some suggestions.

I have a wide screen HDTV from HP which I currently have set to stretch mode which does stretch the 4.3 broadcasts out to full scrren and says in the manual that it displays hi def programming at its correct resolution.

I have left the set top box settings at default, but have no Idea if they are optimally set. I can access them from the menu, but have not changed anything.

I know that when I look at channels like espn hd or comcast sportsnet hd, that the times I have seen them, they look hd, but have the sidebars which say hd on the bar. discovery HD is always widescreen and looks great.

Can anyone give me a suggestion on if I need to change any settings on the box of where they should be set?

secondly, I have heard some things about leaving the set top box on all of the time and just turning the tv off. What is the common practice here? also, if the box is turned off, will it turn its power on to record on the dvr if a recording is scheduled?

If turning everything off is there an order in which you should do so? and also when turning things on, any order?

Finally, I am considering the harmony remote that walmart carries. the 500 series. will this help wioth simplification? I will have the TV,the comcast box, a dvd / vhs combo and a progressive scan dvd player hooked up.

Thank you

puck71 · 07-13-2006, 04:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kevm

I know that when I look at channels like espn hd or comcast sportsnet hd, that the times I have seen them, they look hd, but have the sidebars which say hd on the bar. discovery HD is always widescreen and looks great.

Not everything on ESPN is broadcast in HD. If you're seeing the HD bars, you're in good shape. Check it during a primetime event or Sportscenter and you should see a full picture with no bars.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kevm

secondly, I have heard some things about leaving the set top box on all of the time and just turning the tv off. What is the common practice here? also, if the box is turned off, will it turn its power on to record on the dvr if a recording is scheduled?

I leave mine on all the time because there's not really any reason to turn it off. All it does when you "turn it off" is disable the outputs and turn off the LCDs on the front. The tuners and buffers remain on.

If the box is off, it will turn on to record a scheduled program, but the audio output will be muted when it does this. This is by design, so if you have it hooked up to a sound system it won't wake you out of bed in the middle of the night when it records things, but many people consider it a bug. Also, if you have overlapping programs scheduled to record, I think it's been known to shut down after the first one ends, cutting off the end of the other program. So those reasons are the bigger ones that people recommend just leaving it on all the time. If the lights on the front are an issue, try covering them up with something at night.

fishacur · 07-13-2006, 06:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kevm

Hello, just got my DCT3412 (comcast) yesterday. The tech that installed it was a nice enough guy, but an obvious box jockey with no idea whatsoever of how the thing should be set up. So I want to ask the pros here for some suggestions.

I have a wide screen HDTV from HP which I currently have set to stretch mode which does stretch the 4.3 broadcasts out to full scrren and says in the manual that it displays hi def programming at its correct resolution.

I have left the set top box settings at default, but have no Idea if they are optimally set. I can access them from the menu, but have not changed anything.

I know that when I look at channels like espn hd or comcast sportsnet hd, that the times I have seen them, they look hd, but have the sidebars which say hd on the bar. discovery HD is always widescreen and looks great.

Can anyone give me a suggestion on if I need to change any settings on the box of where they should be set?

secondly, I have heard some things about leaving the set top box on all of the time and just turning the tv off. What is the common practice here? also, if the box is turned off, will it turn its power on to record on the dvr if a recording is scheduled?

If turning everything off is there an order in which you should do so? and also when turning things on, any order?

Finally, I am considering the harmony remote that walmart carries. the 500 series. will this help wioth simplification? I will have the TV,the comcast box, a dvd / vhs combo and a progressive scan dvd player hooked up.

Thank you

What settings can you change? The only ones I know of are TV size (4:3 or 16:9), 4:3 override (which I have off because the stretch is horribly distorted and my Toshiba allows me to stretch the sides while keeping the center non-distorted) and output mode (1080i, 720p)

Are you able to change something else?

Kevm · 07-13-2006, 08:43 PM

Thank you for taking the time to respond. the settings that you mentioned are the only ones that I can change. I also have stretch mode off on the comcast box, but I do have the aspect mode set to stretch using my actual tv controls. I believe I will get in the habit of leaving the box on as a result of your comments.
Thank you again

ja2935 · 07-14-2006, 11:48 AM

Read http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Motorola_6412 it'll tell you all you need to know about the 6412 and the 3412, inluding the Mute disabling and the 30sec FF. I just switched from the 6412 to the 3412 but kept the same remote so I know the button remapping works on both models.

Incidentally when the unit is switched off by the remote power button (ie front panel lights off) the buffers do stop recording. And yes, if it is off it will come on for the duration of the recording and then switch off. It will always Mute at this point - remapping an unused button on the remote allows you to un-Mute. I have a receiver as my AUX on the remote so the remote Mute button is linked to this.

Order of switch-on (DVR,TV, or the other way round - don't know which it should be) is only critical when using an HDMI - with Component cables it make no difference as there is no handshake. If you use the red power button it switches the DVR,TV and then AUX (keep it pointed at the equipment) so I assume this to be the correct order!

07-13-2006, 08:49 AM	#1
Kevm A couch and an HDTV to go please. Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 14	3412 set top box set up questions Hello, just got my DCT3412 (comcast) yesterday. The tech that installed it was a nice enough guy, but an obvious box jockey with no idea whatsoever of how the thing should be set up. So I want to ask the pros here for some suggestions. I have a wide screen HDTV from HP which I currently have set to stretch mode which does stretch the 4.3 broadcasts out to full scrren and says in the manual that it displays hi def programming at its correct resolution. I have left the set top box settings at default, but have no Idea if they are optimally set. I can access them from the menu, but have not changed anything. I know that when I look at channels like espn hd or comcast sportsnet hd, that the times I have seen them, they look hd, but have the sidebars which say hd on the bar. discovery HD is always widescreen and looks great. Can anyone give me a suggestion on if I need to change any settings on the box of where they should be set? secondly, I have heard some things about leaving the set top box on all of the time and just turning the tv off. What is the common practice here? also, if the box is turned off, will it turn its power on to record on the dvr if a recording is scheduled? If turning everything off is there an order in which you should do so? and also when turning things on, any order? Finally, I am considering the harmony remote that walmart carries. the 500 series. will this help wioth simplification? I will have the TV,the comcast box, a dvd / vhs combo and a progressive scan dvd player hooked up. Thank you

07-14-2006, 11:48 AM	#5
ja2935 High Definition is the definition of life. Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Atlanta, GA Posts: 1,034	Read http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Motorola_6412 it'll tell you all you need to know about the 6412 and the 3412, inluding the Mute disabling and the 30sec FF. I just switched from the 6412 to the 3412 but kept the same remote so I know the button remapping works on both models. Incidentally when the unit is switched off by the remote power button (ie front panel lights off) the buffers do stop recording. And yes, if it is off it will come on for the duration of the recording and then switch off. It will always Mute at this point - remapping an unused button on the remote allows you to un-Mute. I have a receiver as my AUX on the remote so the remote Mute button is linked to this. Order of switch-on (DVR,TV, or the other way round - don't know which it should be) is only critical when using an HDMI - with Component cables it make no difference as there is no handshake. If you use the red power button it switches the DVR,TV and then AUX (keep it pointed at the equipment) so I assume this to be the correct order! __________________ Toshiba 34HF84 Comcast Motorola DCT 3416 (all digital), Component/Fiber Optic Toshiba SD4900 (Region Free), Component/Digital Coax Toshiba HD-A2, HDMI/Fiber Optic Yamaha YHT-160 Home Theater System Last edited by ja2935; 07-14-2006 at 11:51 AM.

07-13-2006, 08:43 PM	#4
Kevm A couch and an HDTV to go please. Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 14	Thank you for taking the time to respond. the settings that you mentioned are the only ones that I can change. I also have stretch mode off on the comcast box, but I do have the aspect mode set to stretch using my actual tv controls. I believe I will get in the habit of leaving the box on as a result of your comments. Thank you again