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Non-Tulsa Discussions => Chat and Advice => Topic started by: Cats Cats Cats on September 29, 2008, 10:23:25 PM

Title: Cox DVR jacked up this week (anybody else?)
Post by: Cats Cats Cats on September 29, 2008, 10:23:25 PM
I have a few shows on series recording on my cox dvr on the hd channels. (House, Heroes,Family Guy, Etc.)

starting monday all my series recordings of these shows on the HD channels quit working.  Anybody else have this problem?
Title: Cox DVR jacked up this week (anybody else?)
Post by: sgrizzle on September 29, 2008, 10:43:58 PM
Happened to me too.
Title: Cox DVR jacked up this week (anybody else?)
Post by: TheTed on September 29, 2008, 10:49:57 PM
Just happened to me, too.

The DVR is no longer recording much of anything, even though various series and recurring manual recordings are set up.

I called Cox. They were worthless. Sending a repair guy in a week.

If you just delete your series from the series manager and set them up again, everything seems to work. Kind of a pain.

Too bad the guy at Cox seemingly had no idea. This is obviously a problem on their end, not with my DVR box.
Title: Cox DVR jacked up this week (anybody else?)
Post by: southerngirl on September 29, 2008, 10:53:00 PM
This also happened to us.  We're on our third Cox DVR and I think I'm going to return it and go back to Tivo. We were told by the counter person at Cox after returning the second DVR with issues that these boxes are not extremely reliable and people bring them in all the time to trade them out.
Title: Cox DVR jacked up this week (anybody else?)
Post by: patric on September 30, 2008, 12:16:19 AM
Some time ago Cox struck a deal with TiVo to use it's DVR's instead of the cheap knock-offs Cox uses now.  Did they back out or are they just slow?
Title: Cox DVR jacked up this week (anybody else?)
Post by: Hoss on September 30, 2008, 12:31:04 AM
quote:
Originally posted by patric

Some time ago Cox struck a deal with TiVo to use it's DVR's instead of the cheap knock-offs Cox uses now.  Did they back out or are they just slow?



Wrong; they struck a deal to use TIVO software in their current DVRs as an option that would cost a little extra.  Cox has rolled some of that in the Northeast, but nothing here yet.

And the DVRs Cox uses are not cheap or cheaply made by any stretch of the imagination.
Title: Cox DVR jacked up this week (anybody else?)
Post by: Jonette on September 30, 2008, 03:14:14 AM
I just switched to ATT for my cable. My COX stuff was messing up and I was SO TIRED of dealing with COX.

The ATT DVR can record 4 channels at once, and you can watch all the recorded DVR programs on any TV with an ATT box. So if I record on the DVR in the living room, I can also watch it in my bedroom later when I go to bed.

I used to run the kids off from the living room so I could watch my stuff, but then I also could not lay in my bed and watch the DVR stuff. Now I watch my stuff when I am going to bed at night. It's rather nice to have access in any room to all the stuff I record in the living room.

Also the ATT equipment is SO much smaller and it's kinda nice to free up some space on the shelves and not have to deal with that BIG BOX any longer.



Title: Cox DVR jacked up this week (anybody else?)
Post by: sgrizzle on September 30, 2008, 07:29:18 AM
I believe this problem is more with the EPG (Program Guide) than with the DVR itself. When you setup a recording for "Channel 9" what the DVR knows is a designator code for the channel #, format, signal provider, etc. The DVR is acting as if the channel 709 I have no is not the same one I had last week. That is why re-adding works because it adds the recording with the new designator.

The majority if cable and satellite providers use a guide created by Gemstar/TV Guide (71st and Lewis) but Cox had a contract with another company that sold out to TV Guide somewhat recently.

So in short, there is a lot more too it than "LOL COX SUX" and the call center is there to help you with the simple issues. Likely 90% if calls fall into "box not turned on," "batteries dead in remote," and that kind of thing so they don't need to be trained on the intricacies of EPG/DVR integration. They also are generally told to "send a tech" when they don't understand instead of sending a call onto level 2.
Title: Cox DVR jacked up this week (anybody else?)
Post by: carltonplace on September 30, 2008, 07:57:26 AM
I have a consistant problem with the music channels on Cox digital cable. They work for a short time and then begin to lose signal. Its so annoying when a song you love is cutting out and in. I've unplugged the power and the cable, reset, and always make sure that the thing is powered down when not in use. Maybe I need a new box.

I don't have a poor signal for any other cable application. My internet works well as do the digital TV channels.

I did experience the same DVR issue listed above. I just reset the series manager as described above.
Title: Cox DVR jacked up this week (anybody else?)
Post by: inteller on September 30, 2008, 08:50:43 AM
quote:
Originally posted by carltonplace

I have a consistant problem with the music channels on Cox digital cable.


I do too....they are crap.  Cox would do well to sign a deal with Sirius XM Radio like Dish did.

Cox Tulsa uses an EPG from Aptiv (formerly Pioneer Digital).....absolute junk.

The good news is Gemstar bought Aptiv, so hopefully Passport will go away soon.  The bad news is Macrovision gobbled up Gemstar...and that company has a horrible track record for overt control of digital media.
Title: Cox DVR jacked up this week (anybody else?)
Post by: sgrizzle on September 30, 2008, 08:52:48 AM
Oh, and for the TIVO fans, I've got one in my garage, sell it to you cheap.
Title: Cox DVR jacked up this week (anybody else?)
Post by: Hoss on September 30, 2008, 09:05:23 AM
quote:
Originally posted by Jonette

I just switched to ATT for my cable. My COX stuff was messing up and I was SO TIRED of dealing with COX.

The ATT DVR can record 4 channels at once, and you can watch all the recorded DVR programs on any TV with an ATT box. So if I record on the DVR in the living room, I can also watch it in my bedroom later when I go to bed.

I used to run the kids off from the living room so I could watch my stuff, but then I also could not lay in my bed and watch the DVR stuff. Now I watch my stuff when I am going to bed at night. It's rather nice to have access in any room to all the stuff I record in the living room.

Also the ATT equipment is SO much smaller and it's kinda nice to free up some space on the shelves and not have to deal with that BIG BOX any longer.







Not everybody in town has it available to them yet.  Essentially, if you are getting AT&T landline phone via aerial, don't expect Uverse anytime soon.
Title: Cox DVR jacked up this week (anybody else?)
Post by: sgrizzle on September 30, 2008, 09:24:37 AM
quote:
Originally posted by inteller

quote:
Originally posted by carltonplace

I have a consistant problem with the music channels on Cox digital cable.


I do too....they are crap.  Cox would do well to sign a deal with Sirius XM Radio like Dish did.

Cox Tulsa uses an EPG from Aptiv (formerly Pioneer Digital).....absolute junk.

The good news is Gemstar bought Aptiv, so hopefully Passport will go away soon.  The bad news is Macrovision gobbled up Gemstar...and that company has a horrible track record for overt control of digital media.



From what I understand the same Gemstar/TV Guide people are still managing this without any real Macrovision influence.
Title: Cox DVR jacked up this week (anybody else?)
Post by: AngieB on September 30, 2008, 09:26:33 AM
quote:
Originally posted by carltonplace

I have a consistant problem with the music channels on Cox digital cable. They work for a short time and then begin to lose signal. Its so annoying when a song you love is cutting out and in. I've unplugged the power and the cable, reset, and always make sure that the thing is powered down when not in use. Maybe I need a new box.

I don't have a poor signal for any other cable application. My internet works well as do the digital TV channels.

I did experience the same DVR issue listed above. I just reset the series manager as described above.



We had really bad pixelization too. They came out and found that squirrels had chewed into the lines at the pole as well as some splitter issues in the house. It's a lot better now, but still occasionally shows up. We asked how much pixelizing we should be expected to tolerate and they replied "NONE". They should fix it.

Also, we had the series recording weirdness too. I went home for lunch and realized a show that was on right then wasn't recording...I went in to start it up and even though it wasn't showing on the DVR that it was recording, the whole show was picked up. AND when I turned the TV on, it was on a different channel so it wasn't just picking it up from that...it was like it was recording, but showed no indication that it was recording if that makes any sense.
Title: Cox DVR jacked up this week (anybody else?)
Post by: Hoss on September 30, 2008, 09:53:32 AM
quote:
Originally posted by TulsaMINI

quote:
Originally posted by carltonplace

I have a consistant problem with the music channels on Cox digital cable. They work for a short time and then begin to lose signal. Its so annoying when a song you love is cutting out and in. I've unplugged the power and the cable, reset, and always make sure that the thing is powered down when not in use. Maybe I need a new box.

I don't have a poor signal for any other cable application. My internet works well as do the digital TV channels.

I did experience the same DVR issue listed above. I just reset the series manager as described above.



We had really bad pixelization too. They came out and found that squirrels had chewed into the lines at the pole as well as some splitter issues in the house. It's a lot better now, but still occasionally shows up. We asked how much pixelizing we should be expected to tolerate and they replied "NONE". They should fix it.

Also, we had the series recording weirdness too. I went home for lunch and realized a show that was on right then wasn't recording...I went in to start it up and even though it wasn't showing on the DVR that it was recording, the whole show was picked up. AND when I turned the TV on, it was on a different channel so it wasn't just picking it up from that...it was like it was recording, but showed no indication that it was recording if that makes any sense.



Which DVR do you have?  This one?:

(http://broadband.motorola.com/dvr/images/dct6412_bigview_1.jpg)

Or this one?:

(http://broadband.motorola.com/images/product_DCH6416.jpg)
Title: Cox DVR jacked up this week (anybody else?)
Post by: AngieB on September 30, 2008, 10:19:53 AM
Who? Me?

It's this one:
(http://broadband.motorola.com/dvr/images/dct6412_bigview_1.jpg)
Title: Cox DVR jacked up this week (anybody else?)
Post by: sgrizzle on September 30, 2008, 10:24:39 AM
I, like TM, have the older model box. I can go switch it out for free but have to be caught up to do that.
Title: Cox DVR jacked up this week (anybody else?)
Post by: inteller on September 30, 2008, 12:38:02 PM
I've always wondered why cable boxes have to have LED clocks on them that are like 2 inches high.  It is like good industrial design completely escapes cable companies.  I know Moto is capable of making a good looking box.  In some ways the new box is worse looking than the old box....but the huge clock on the old box is horrible....it just screams cheap.

What is particularly stupid is that they won't enable the eSATA ports on the box.  Iomega makes an external storage device for SA boxes, but not moto.  I'd even let them format the external drive with whatever DRM they want if they'd just let me expand the meager storage inside the DVR.  I record 3 high def movies and all of a sudden it starts setting shows to auto delete.
Title: Cox DVR jacked up this week (anybody else?)
Post by: jne on September 30, 2008, 01:05:18 PM
quote:
Originally posted by inteller

I've always wondered why cable boxes have to have LED clocks on them that are like 2 inches high.  It is like good industrial design completely escapes cable companies.  I know Moto is capable of making a good looking box.  In some ways the new box is worse looking than the old box....but the huge clock on the old box is horrible....it just screams cheap.

What is particularly stupid is that they won't enable the eSATA ports on the box.  Iomega makes an external storage device for SA boxes, but not moto.  I'd even let them format the external drive with whatever DRM they want if they'd just let me expand the meager storage inside the DVR.  I record 3 high def movies and all of a sudden it starts setting shows to auto delete.



When I originally got my cox box (same as TM's) I went through 3 of them in the first week.  The first one wouldn't record anything.  The second one only had one tuner working. The third has been working for years.  When I would take them back in they would just toss them into a giant laundry bag on top of other returns.  Surely they refurb the things, but they toss them around like they're headed for the trash.  Like inteller mentioned, they have lots of hardware capability that is just disabled -such a waste.
What are the advantages to the new boxes?  Is it still running Passport?  Should I go get one or will I be spending all my spare time returning them until I get one that works?
Title: Cox DVR jacked up this week (anybody else?)
Post by: Hoss on September 30, 2008, 01:18:18 PM
quote:
Originally posted by jne

quote:
Originally posted by inteller

I've always wondered why cable boxes have to have LED clocks on them that are like 2 inches high.  It is like good industrial design completely escapes cable companies.  I know Moto is capable of making a good looking box.  In some ways the new box is worse looking than the old box....but the huge clock on the old box is horrible....it just screams cheap.

What is particularly stupid is that they won't enable the eSATA ports on the box.  Iomega makes an external storage device for SA boxes, but not moto.  I'd even let them format the external drive with whatever DRM they want if they'd just let me expand the meager storage inside the DVR.  I record 3 high def movies and all of a sudden it starts setting shows to auto delete.



When I originally got my cox box (same as TM's) I went through 3 of them in the first week.  The first one wouldn't record anything.  The second one only had one tuner working. The third has been working for years.  When I would take them back in they would just toss them into a giant laundry bag on top of other returns.  Surely they refurb the things, but they toss them around like they're headed for the trash.  Like inteller mentioned, they have lots of hardware capability that is just disabled -such a waste.
What are the advantages to the new boxes?  Is it still running Passport?  Should I go get one or will I be spending all my spare time returning them until I get one that works?



I couldn't see any advantage other than my pixelation problems went away with the new box.  It seems a little slower though.
Title: Cox DVR jacked up this week (anybody else?)
Post by: carltonplace on September 30, 2008, 01:43:40 PM
Waterboy, did the new box fix the music channels as well?
Title: Cox DVR jacked up this week (anybody else?)
Post by: Shaneous on October 03, 2008, 11:17:08 AM
I had the same problem.  I called and he hadn't heard of it before but if others call it will generate a report that Cox will look at.

Title: Cox DVR jacked up this week (anybody else?)
Post by: inteller on October 04, 2008, 02:36:41 PM
did anyone get in on the free movies a few weeks ago when Cox left HBO HD, Showtime, and Starz HD wide open?  I was flipping through and I was like pancakes?  RECORD RECORD RECORD![}:)]
Title: Cox DVR jacked up this week (anybody else?)
Post by: sgrizzle on October 04, 2008, 07:32:33 PM
quote:
Originally posted by inteller

did anyone get in on the free movies a few weeks ago when Cox left HBO HD, Showtime, and Starz HD wide open?  I was flipping through and I was like pancakes?  RECORD RECORD RECORD![}:)]



On here every day and THAT you forget to post about?
Title: Cox DVR jacked up this week (anybody else?)
Post by: inteller on October 05, 2008, 10:31:41 AM
quote:
Originally posted by sgrizzle

quote:
Originally posted by inteller

did anyone get in on the free movies a few weeks ago when Cox left HBO HD, Showtime, and Starz HD wide open?  I was flipping through and I was like pancakes?  RECORD RECORD RECORD![}:)]



On here every day and THAT you forget to post about?



well I figure since you know everything it would be redundant at best.
Title: Cox DVR jacked up this week (anybody else?)
Post by: Hoss on October 05, 2008, 01:04:37 PM
quote:
Originally posted by inteller

quote:
Originally posted by sgrizzle

quote:
Originally posted by inteller

did anyone get in on the free movies a few weeks ago when Cox left HBO HD, Showtime, and Starz HD wide open?  I was flipping through and I was like pancakes?  RECORD RECORD RECORD![}:)]



On here every day and THAT you forget to post about?



well I figure since you know everything it would be redundant at best.



Ad homina, homina, homina....

[:D]
Title: Cox DVR jacked up this week (anybody else?)
Post by: sgrizzle on October 05, 2008, 03:00:27 PM
quote:
Originally posted by inteller

quote:
Originally posted by sgrizzle

quote:
Originally posted by inteller

did anyone get in on the free movies a few weeks ago when Cox left HBO HD, Showtime, and Starz HD wide open?  I was flipping through and I was like pancakes?  RECORD RECORD RECORD![}:)]



On here every day and THAT you forget to post about?



well I figure since you know everything it would be redundant at best.



I'm glad to know you think of me so often, but you could've let everyone else know.