Scientific Atlantic 8300 HD box

sasheegm · 02-13-2005, 07:44 AM

That could be good information for all of us at the Forum.........Renting a DVR, rather then buying one, has its advantages.......Should anything go wrong, you have the Cable Co. backing the unit, unless your an electronics expert like my Son-In-Law who put my system together, except for the SA8300 which the Cable Company installed; but he still has it hooked up to the Receiver, which is connected to all of the extras( DVD-Player, VCR, DVD-Recorder, Monster, and the HDTV).........My Son-In-Law also used Monster Cables for all key connections, which cost me a small fortune, but the end result is magnificent reception in both PQ & Sound........I look foward to reading your report on the connections.........Sasheegm---Joe From Florida

eddiscus · 02-13-2005, 11:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by amf1932

Maybe some of you guys can help me out concerning the SA 8300 HD box which I'm contemplating. I have Cablevision service in NYC.

1- I am now using the SA 4200HD box which feeds my HDTV set thru component cables, and using the 'cable out' to feed a signal to two other TV sets, simultaneously. Is it possible to do this with the SA 8300HD box also? I was told by somebody that this type of connection on the SA 8300 HD will only activate either 'component' connections or 'cable out' connections, but not simultaneously. If this is true, that would mean that I couldn't use this type of signal feed to all the sets together. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

P. S. How do you guys/gals, like the operation of this new box?

Alan

I am satisfied with the record and playback quality of the SA8300HD (Cablevision North Jersey). I know this has been allready covered but if hooking up to the cable out would disable the component out ( which I doubt it would) you could just split the cable before the SA 8300. Having one feed for the 8300 and the other feed to the other sets.

FYI: I do know on the SA4200 that hooking up the component cables turned of the DVI output. I have not tested this on the SA8300. Just connected to HDMI and all is well. Maybe somebody can confirm if both component and HDMI work with both being used.

amf1932 · 02-13-2005, 12:53 PM

Quote:

you could just split the cable before the SA 8300. Having one feed for the 8300 and the other feed to the other sets.

I can't do that with my cable system(Cablevision-NYC), since all signals are scrambled until they go thru the converter box.

Alan

eddiscus · 02-14-2005, 10:54 AM

Maybe somebody else can confirm. I would think at worst using the cable out may disable the HDMI output. I am utilizing the HDMI and s-video outputs together with no problems. I have not checked if the component connections are active.

amf1932 · 02-15-2005, 02:01 PM

Well, Cablevision sent over a technician this morning to exchange my SA4200HD cable box for the SA 8300HD DVR cable box. Everything is working fantastically, and so far I'm 100% pleased. It seems a lot of cable companies send out contractors to install these boxes and the majority don't have any experience with the proper hookups and operation of DVR boxes, especially if you are working thru a home theatre audio system. In fact the guy who came had absolutely zero experience with this box! He ended up saying that I should hook it up myself, because I knew more then him, which is what I did. I immediately called up Cablevision to complain, and told them that I originally requested an experienced engineer to do this. They told me that they'll credit me with the service call charge($34.95) on my next bill. Remember the old adage: The Squeeky Wheel Gets the Grease.
The only difference that is slightly annoying with digital cable boxes is the fact that you can only get a mono audio signal with the "cable out" connection, as opposed to a former analog box that would give me stereo reception.

Once again, I'm very happy with the flexibility and PQ that I now have whether its HD or SD.

Alan

sasheegm · 02-16-2005, 06:09 AM

Glad your happy with it Alan........It tweeked my reception up dramatically in all 3 formats....SD, HD & Digital, on my Mits WS65815........I had called the VP of Customer Service & Public Relations of Bright House Networks( Time Warner with a different Name) who I knew from 2001, when I bought my 1st HDTV, the Zenith IQB64W, whch was destroyed by the Hurricanes we had in Central Florida in Sept) anyway, I was the first Cable Customer in this area to buy a big screen HD TV, and Time Warner had just up-graded all their lines throughout Central Florida, but had no HD set in their Shop!.......So my Zenith was used to calibrate their system & to track down a problem they had in transmission from their Sanford terminal near Orlando to all of Central Florida( The Techs were in and out of my home for over week)-------Fast Foward to today.....after the Mits WS65815 is hooked up to the SA3500, I believe, the picture was terribe on SD & Digital.....Only HD was good to watch........The Mitubishi tech came out and said its in the Channels trnsmission & I have to live with it......Time Warner guy said the same thing!.......Well, after spending close to $9000 for my new Home Ent system, I could not believe that the transmission of signals had gone down that bad in the 5 months that my home was being re-built....So I called the VP in Orlando, and he told me he would take care of the problem.......Following day a grubby looking Sub-Contractor pulls up in his F150,,,,Hooks up the SA8300.....Digital looks like Digital now, but the SD was still bad......He goes outside and climbs the pole and does something up there-----then he fiddles around with the box outside....as I am watching an SD station, the picture is sharpening up like adjusting a Camera lens( he said he brought it up 7 to 10, whatever that means).....and for the last two weeks, it has been perfect.......So apparently down here in East Central Florida, this Sub-contractor knew more then the guys wearing the uniform......This sub also said that the best boxes are the 8000 & 8300......I cannot say what he said about the other SA models on the forum.....anyway I'm glad you are as happy with your SA 8300 as I am with mine.....sasheegm...joe from florida

Seth Lubin · 02-18-2005, 11:37 AM

Now that I'm getting used to my SA 8300 HD DVR, I have to say the remote is really bad. I like to sit in my TV room with limited amounts of light, as if in a movie theater.

In this light set up, while watching a recorded program through the DVR it is almost impossible to find the buttons for play, fast forward, etc. There are so many buttons, so close together and none of them are back lit.

The remote control suppled with my older SD SA cable box was ok, because it was only used to change channels on the screen. However, with all the added features of the 8300, this really stinks.

Any comments. Any suggestions for a learning remote that would do the same thing and have back lighting.

Seth Lubin

amf1932 · 02-18-2005, 12:12 PM

I think the remote that I received from Cablevision in the NY area is as good as any other remote that I use. True, there are more buttons on a DVR remote, but they have to put them somewhere, and I feel that the more accustomed I become with this layout, the more comfortable I feel. Yes, it would be nice if this remote had backlit buttons though. My expensive Sony ES remote for my receiver doesn't have this feature either, so I learned to live with it. You could buy a universal learning remote that has the backlit features and teach it to do all the functions that you desire.
Aside from this, I'm enjoying this SA8300HD tremendously, so far.

Alan

chadw01 · 02-19-2005, 10:59 AM

Any of Harmony's remotes will do the trick for you - they are all back-lit and work well with the 8300HD.

I have the 659 model.

02-13-2005, 07:44 AM	#16
sasheegm High Definition is the definition of life. Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 57	Good-Information-For-All-Of-Us That could be good information for all of us at the Forum.........Renting a DVR, rather then buying one, has its advantages.......Should anything go wrong, you have the Cable Co. backing the unit, unless your an electronics expert like my Son-In-Law who put my system together, except for the SA8300 which the Cable Company installed; but he still has it hooked up to the Receiver, which is connected to all of the extras( DVD-Player, VCR, DVD-Recorder, Monster, and the HDTV).........My Son-In-Law also used Monster Cables for all key connections, which cost me a small fortune, but the end result is magnificent reception in both PQ & Sound........I look foward to reading your report on the connections.........Sasheegm---Joe From Florida

02-16-2005, 06:09 AM	#21
sasheegm High Definition is the definition of life. Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 57	It's Worth The Extra Few Bucks-SA8300-HD-DVR Glad your happy with it Alan........It tweeked my reception up dramatically in all 3 formats....SD, HD & Digital, on my Mits WS65815........I had called the VP of Customer Service & Public Relations of Bright House Networks( Time Warner with a different Name) who I knew from 2001, when I bought my 1st HDTV, the Zenith IQB64W, whch was destroyed by the Hurricanes we had in Central Florida in Sept) anyway, I was the first Cable Customer in this area to buy a big screen HD TV, and Time Warner had just up-graded all their lines throughout Central Florida, but had no HD set in their Shop!.......So my Zenith was used to calibrate their system & to track down a problem they had in transmission from their Sanford terminal near Orlando to all of Central Florida( The Techs were in and out of my home for over week)-------Fast Foward to today.....after the Mits WS65815 is hooked up to the SA3500, I believe, the picture was terribe on SD & Digital.....Only HD was good to watch........The Mitubishi tech came out and said its in the Channels trnsmission & I have to live with it......Time Warner guy said the same thing!.......Well, after spending close to $9000 for my new Home Ent system, I could not believe that the transmission of signals had gone down that bad in the 5 months that my home was being re-built....So I called the VP in Orlando, and he told me he would take care of the problem.......Following day a grubby looking Sub-Contractor pulls up in his F150,,,,Hooks up the SA8300.....Digital looks like Digital now, but the SD was still bad......He goes outside and climbs the pole and does something up there-----then he fiddles around with the box outside....as I am watching an SD station, the picture is sharpening up like adjusting a Camera lens( he said he brought it up 7 to 10, whatever that means).....and for the last two weeks, it has been perfect.......So apparently down here in East Central Florida, this Sub-contractor knew more then the guys wearing the uniform......This sub also said that the best boxes are the 8000 & 8300......I cannot say what he said about the other SA models on the forum.....anyway I'm glad you are as happy with your SA 8300 as I am with mine.....sasheegm...joe from florida

02-18-2005, 11:37 AM	#22
Seth Lubin DLP HDTV is great! Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: USA New Jersey Age: 60 Posts: 58	SA 8300 HD..Terrible remote Now that I'm getting used to my SA 8300 HD DVR, I have to say the remote is really bad. I like to sit in my TV room with limited amounts of light, as if in a movie theater. In this light set up, while watching a recorded program through the DVR it is almost impossible to find the buttons for play, fast forward, etc. There are so many buttons, so close together and none of them are back lit. The remote control suppled with my older SD SA cable box was ok, because it was only used to change channels on the screen. However, with all the added features of the 8300, this really stinks. Any comments. Any suggestions for a learning remote that would do the same thing and have back lighting. Seth Lubin

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02-14-2005, 10:54 AM	#19
eddiscus HDTV the best improvment Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 43	Maybe somebody else can confirm. I would think at worst using the cable out may disable the HDMI output. I am utilizing the HDMI and s-video outputs together with no problems. I have not checked if the component connections are active.

02-15-2005, 02:01 PM	#20
amf1932 Sony 52" XBR4 Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Brooklyn, NY Posts: 546	Well, Cablevision sent over a technician this morning to exchange my SA4200HD cable box for the SA 8300HD DVR cable box. Everything is working fantastically, and so far I'm 100% pleased. It seems a lot of cable companies send out contractors to install these boxes and the majority don't have any experience with the proper hookups and operation of DVR boxes, especially if you are working thru a home theatre audio system. In fact the guy who came had absolutely zero experience with this box! He ended up saying that I should hook it up myself, because I knew more then him, which is what I did. I immediately called up Cablevision to complain, and told them that I originally requested an experienced engineer to do this. They told me that they'll credit me with the service call charge($34.95) on my next bill. Remember the old adage: The Squeeky Wheel Gets the Grease. The only difference that is slightly annoying with digital cable boxes is the fact that you can only get a mono audio signal with the "cable out" connection, as opposed to a former analog box that would give me stereo reception. Once again, I'm very happy with the flexibility and PQ that I now have whether its HD or SD. Alan

02-18-2005, 12:12 PM	#23
amf1932 Sony 52" XBR4 Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Brooklyn, NY Posts: 546	I think the remote that I received from Cablevision in the NY area is as good as any other remote that I use. True, there are more buttons on a DVR remote, but they have to put them somewhere, and I feel that the more accustomed I become with this layout, the more comfortable I feel. Yes, it would be nice if this remote had backlit buttons though. My expensive Sony ES remote for my receiver doesn't have this feature either, so I learned to live with it. You could buy a universal learning remote that has the backlit features and teach it to do all the functions that you desire. Aside from this, I'm enjoying this SA8300HD tremendously, so far. Alan

02-19-2005, 10:59 AM	#24
chadw01 My plasma is High Def. Join Date: Aug 2004 Posts: 5	Any of Harmony's remotes will do the trick for you - they are all back-lit and work well with the 8300HD. I have the 659 model.