Scientific Atlanta Explorer 8300 HDC questions

willywilly99

For The only difference between the 8300HD and the 8300HDC is the location of where the cable card is inserted.

__________________
YOURFREEMOVIEDOWNLOADS

Slobahonnis

MFabien...Thanks for the response!

texasaggie94

My input is that the software installed on the HD and HDC is significantly different. This may be for just my area, but that is the big difference. With the 8300 HD, they used Passport - SARA and one issue was that HDMI would work intermittently and I would get an error message on the screen saying that I needed to use component hook up. The one thing that was great, was that my Western Digital, My DVR Expander, worked! With the 8300 HDC, the OS is OPEC - Navigator. HDMI works with out a problem, although it will not output a simultaneously from the HDMI and Component video outputs. Example: Say your have your TV hooked to the HDC box with component and you also have your HDC hooked to your amplifier via HDMI. Just as soon as you turn the amp on the box will cut the video signal from the box to the TV. Very stupid, but that's the way that OS works. And the worst thing about the new software and HDC box is that my DVR Expander no longer works. And I finally figured that out after my HDC box would randomly stop working. I went through 6 boxes to realize that the expander was causing some kind of conflict with the HDC and causing it to prevent the output of audio and video signal.

This is my experience and knowledge of the box differences.

Slobahonnis

Per their instructions I returned the SA 8300HDC to be replaced. They did not have any more in stock so they sent me off with an SA 8000HD. This unit has no HDMI capability. I set it up with component cables and now my picture has purple lines slowly scrawling up the screen and an annoying audio hum. I can only assume that running the digital Comcast signal through analog video (component) cables is causing the line scrawl and that I now need a ground loop isolator or something like that on the audio connection between the SA 8000HD and the Sony 46V2500 TV. I went from an annoying but livable problem of having to reset the 1080i every time I turned on the box to a crap picture and unbearable sound.

I don't think I have electrical interference problems because there was no hum or line scrawl when using the SA 8300HDC and HDMI cables. Maybe I just need cables with better shielding. Whatever.

When I called to complain about this problem they offered to come out to the house for a $27 charge. I told them to stuff it and that I was thinking of charging them for all of the de-bug work I do for them. LOL. Now they have agreed to bring out a new HDMI capable box to the house and clean up all of this mess, AT NO EXTRA CHARGE. I'll believe it when I see it.

I think U-Verse (AT&T) is available in my area. Does anyone here have any experience with that service (TV over IP)? Comcast is just not cutting it.

mikea57

I haven't seen this problem mentioned here. I've been having problems with my SA8300HDC dropping the video over HDMI. The audio continues to work but the screen goes blank and I get a message on the TV that says, "Unsupported Signal. Check your device output." I am hooking this box up to my Onkyo SC885P Surround Preamplifier via HDMI then sending the signal from there to my Sony KDL-52XBR4 also via HDMI. I am a month into this project and I am getting more and more frustrated every day.
Originally, I set the Onkyo, my Oppo DVD player and the cable box up in a temporary configuration until my equipment racks came in and I got them installed. The DVD and cable box were plugged in via HDMI to the Onkyo and then HDMI was sent from the Onkyo to the TV. I wasn't using the amplifier or speakers during this time so the audio went straight to the TV too. This worked perfectly for almost 2 weeks. I got my racks, installed the equipment and made the hookups again, just as before. This time however, the cable signal would either not send video or it would work for a few moments and then drop out. I could hook the box up to the TV directly and it worked perfectly. I checked cables, connections and everything I could think of and finally, for some unknown reason the cable gods smiled down upon me (i.e., I have no idea what I did to get it to work). I got a perfect video and audio as long as I turned all the components on in a certain order. At that point I figured it was some sort of handshake issue that I had finally conquered. Well, it worked for a week then the video dropped out again. I rechecked everything and finally found out about the 8300 resolution setup program. I went through it and got video back (remember, I always had audio) and this time it worked for about 4 days. I came home last night and once again we had audio but no video. I spent all evening trying to figure out what had happened to no avail. I ran the 8300 setup program several times and when I turned everything back on I would either get no video or it would FLASH on then disappear. Or, I would get it but then when I changed channels from SD to HD it would blank out.
While showering this morning I decided to hook the 8300 up to the Onkyo via Component cables and see how that worked. It worked and when I left about 10 minutes later it was still working. I'll see how it does when the kids wake up and that may be the way I have to run it, but it sure does piss me off that I can't run it over HDMI. That is such a simple, elegant solution. Does anybody have any other ideas that may lead me to a solution for this? (Other than DISH or DTV? I like the internet service I get.)

Mike

deadhead68

It sucks when the best solution, HDMI, doesn't work. I understand your frustration. But I can say from following the other sections of the board here that the issue you are dealing with is not only related to cable boxes. Dish and D* boards here contain the same complaints. Most get around it by using component. But it is frustrating because the HDMI is a nice small cable containing both audio and video. It makes for a much neater install. I was praying to the cable Gods myself and they are still smiling down as my setup has been working great with my DVD and cable box connected to my Sony AVR via HDMI with 1 HDMI going to the TV.

Sorry I don't have a solution, just wanted to let you know that you are not alone and the issue spreads across service providers.

DeadHead68

__________________
Toshiba 52HM95
Moto 3416 HD DVR
Sony STR-DG810 Receiver
Sony DVP-NS77H DVD
Denon SYS-76HT Speaker System
Harmony 670

8300HDC

I just got a new 8300 HDC to replace an older model that crashed. I have a setup that uses an Audio Authority Signal Sensing Autoselector Model 1154A so I can channel my xBox, Wii, Apple TV AND 8300 HDC to my Panasonic TH-42PHW5 plasma monitor. It worked great with my old box. The new one sends a poor signal for everything but hi def channels to my monitor.

When I plug the monitor directly to the 8300 HDC it works fine. Does anyone know a way to fix this? Are the 8300 HDC and autoselector incompatible?

Thanks

paraloco

My SA 8300 HDC will not take commands from the remote. I brought 2 other boxes back from TWC with the same problem. The last one worked fine with the remote in their office, but when I got it home, same thing. Hafta use the buttons on the front to do everything. Anybody else have this problem?

mfabien

The problem must be in your home... something is interfering with the infra red signals. Where is the DVR located and is there an obstruction between it and your seating position.

__________________
Samsung LN52B750, SA8300HD, Energy speakers, Yamaha RX-V540, SVS PB12-ISD, Harmony 880, HD-A1, BDP-1400, Oppo DV-970HD, Zektor HDS4.1

paraloco

Its sitting in a media cabinet with the door open, and I was sitting about 10 feet away from it. Its perpendicular to an exterior wall with 2 windows (as soon as I paint, the tv will be mounted on the wall between the windows. for now its on top of the cabinet). I thought the sunlight coming thru might be a problem, but I had the same problem at night.

mainemojo

A little more than two weeks ago, TWC of Maine had me swap an otherwise flawless 8300HD for the 8300HDC because it seemed like the box may be the cause of a digital audio problem we were having. After the problem persisted I swapped for a second HDC, changed the coax audio out cable and switched inputs on the receiver. That suggested the problem was probably with my receiver and not the 8300HD.

But by then it was too late: along the way, TWC said the input level to our box was too low. First a tech came and made few tweaks in the house, which boosted the levels slightly, but not to within their specs. So they sent a maintenance guy to adjust the neighborhood amplifier outside the house. That placed the input right on the money -- but within hours the 8300HDC started pixelating and freezing on digital and HD channels, and our Digital Phone service sounded like the conversations were under water. They've now sent four techs, changed modems, changed splitters, gone over every piece of cable in the house, etc., etc., without any improvement.

I've seen reports about the 8300HDC being unable to handle "normal" or "strong" input levels, and problems like ours being resolved by actually dialing down the input. Is that reliable info, or strictly anecdotal? Is it something we should suggest to TWC?

Trader Bill

I am using the Scientific Atlanta HDTV Explorer 8300 HDC. While it may have limitations, I am happy with most aspects of it. What I am not happy with is paying so much to Comcast for the privilege of using the box.
Are there alternatives on the open market with similar capabilities? As soon as I got the box, my Comcast bill quickly went from $115 to $225. It just isn't worth that much.

mfabien

It would be interesting to try a Harmony universal remote. These remotes can be programmed to operate your SA8300HD and all your other devices and you can put all your remotes in storage.

See if you can buy it from a retailer with a 30 day return policy.

BTW, does your SA8300HD operate with Passport or SARA firmware?

__________________
Samsung LN52B750, SA8300HD, Energy speakers, Yamaha RX-V540, SVS PB12-ISD, Harmony 880, HD-A1, BDP-1400, Oppo DV-970HD, Zektor HDS4.1

paraloco

Dunno. how do I find that out? I'm tempted to take the box back and get a 4th one, but mundane things intrude. My 16 year old broke out one of my truck windows, and I have to buy another one and install it today. and I should go visit him in juvie. not that he'll care.

mfabien

My 8300's have SARA firmware and to get to the diagnostic pages, on the box I press and hold the "Select" button then when the Mail icon flashes, I press the "Info" button.

You can then paruse the pages by pressing the "Page + or -" buttons. For SARA, you will find the firmware version on page 17 of 35.

__________________
Samsung LN52B750, SA8300HD, Energy speakers, Yamaha RX-V540, SVS PB12-ISD, Harmony 880, HD-A1, BDP-1400, Oppo DV-970HD, Zektor HDS4.1