Motorola DVR - Lucky # 3?

[lajohn27]

Ok.. So last July my cable came for free with a Motorola HD-DVR. I didn't want it, I jsut wanted an HD STB. No dice, it was the PVR for HD or otherwise an SD STB.

Fine.

At lunch today, I picked up my third unit in less than 12 months. The most recent one just crashed and would not 'come back'. A previous one died altogether and another had problems being authorized for the premium channels.

And no, before you ask cw, I don't really know what software is running on them. I suspect it's iGuide. :)

But frig. I asked again today - can I PLEASE just have an HD STB. They don't even have such a thing with my cableco. You want HD, you get the PVR.

I hate cable.

J

[Dan203]

Our MOXI DVR, also supplied by the cable company for HD, crashed about 6 months ago. I swear it was like pulling teeth to get them to replace it. They kept trying to blame the constant reboots and half recordings on a poor signal, even though it had been working correctly for almost 6 months before I started having those issues.

Dan

[btl-a4]

The fourth one was lucky for me. I went through 2 of the 6412 and am on my second 3412. The 3412 I have now, two weeks and counting, has been really good to me so far (knock on wood). Recordings are doing well with no missed show or mystery records yet. Interface still blows, but it will do till the series 3 comes out.

I also don't want a lecture on which software I'm running.

[lajohn27]

Well.. not the lucky one..

At first I was confident I had mis-cabled it.. but I had not. The connections on the component output are b&w. Normally this means you've miscabled it somehow. So I checked the component output configuration (it's correct) and check and replace the cables. Finally, I tried another device I had with component output on the same cables / connection - worked fine.

So this one goes back today and we're going for # 4! Wish me luck.

J

[stujac]

Ok.. So last July my cable came for free with a Motorola HD-DVR. I didn't want it, I jsut wanted an HD STB. No dice, it was the PVR for HD or otherwise an SD STB.

Fine.

At lunch today, I picked up my third unit in less than 12 months. The most recent one just crashed and would not 'come back'. A previous one died altogether and another had problems being authorized for the premium channels.

And no, before you ask cw, I don't really know what software is running on them. I suspect it's iGuide. :)

But frig. I asked again today - can I PLEASE just have an HD STB. They don't even have such a thing with my cableco. You want HD, you get the PVR.

I hate cable.

J

For what's its worth, I've also gone through some boxes until I hit upon the major reason for my problems; heat!! My temp used to run between 128 and 132 and the max is 133. The box is underpowered (processor) and heat really affects it. I got a laptop cooler for 9.00 plus shipping and it immediately reduced the temp to a solid 113 and most, not all, of the problems have been cured. The remote communicates with the box and I get far less drop-outs, freeze-ups, etc.

This isn't the solution to make these boxes as good as a tivo box but in my case it certainly helped.

[lajohn27]

I don't store the unit in a cabinet.. it's not on top of other equipment. Its on the top of a cabinet in the great wide open.

If it can't work without me putting a fan on it in the open.. it's got bigger problems than i'm prepared to deal with. :|

J

[mallpig]

I guess I'm just lucky... My moto DVR with iguide has been working fine since I got it. It has freeze up problems and many of the other issues people complain about, but it never died.

[Carfan]

I guess I'm just lucky... My moto DVR with iguide has been working fine since I got it. It has freeze up problems and many of the other issues people complain about, but it never died.

My series I 6412 was a pain since day one. I just swapped to the 3412 version and have seen a improvement in image quality and less issues with delay responses to remote commands etc.

Worth the swap in my opinion.

[lajohn27]

I guess I'm just lucky... My moto DVR with iguide has been working fine since I got it. It has freeze up problems and many of the other issues people complain about, but it never died.


Before I write.. I know exactly what you meant here.. but as I was reading.. the phrase.. "Working fine.." next to "It has freeze up problems.." made me laugh.

How sad is it that 'freezing problems' is considered to be 'working fine' for a cableco DVR?

J

[mallpig]

How sad is it that 'freezing problems' is considered to be 'working fine' for a cableco DVR?
J
Pretty sad I guess .... the thing's so crappy I'm just glad it doesn't completely die. Then again, nothing I've ever gotten from my cableco could ever be described as "nice".