Cable Box switch

[Pic0o]

So, I finally got around to exchanging our Cable Box to a newer model. Our reason was because the prior box was ungodly slow, and using the program guide was like punishment. I found some specs and while I have not had the chance to hook the new box up, I figure it should be marginally better.

 

BTW, the trade in was Free. I just had to take the old box to a local office.

 

Old Box = Scientific Atlanta Explorer 2000

• RAM: 4 MB

• CPU/Bus : 108(MicroSPARC)/54 MHz

 

New Box = Scientific Atlanta Explorer 3250

• RAM: 16 MB

• CPU/Bus : 166/249 MHz

 

Hopefully watching TV should be less crap in the living room. :bunny:

 

Edit to note the new box is much better. If you have one of the 2000 boxes, trade that junk in. :shank:

Edited July 29, 2009 by Pic0o
YUp, New = Much better

[Pic0o]

Bump for anyone hooking these up to a HDMI setup. I had to go into the 2nd Settings (the on-screen icon is shitty, hit Settings again for all options) screen for the cable box, to enabled HDMI Audio Output, as it defaults to component, I believe. Once I changed the output, I finally had Audio with my Cable Video. :P

[Pic0o]

FYI - This Cable box is a POS too. We still had the cut out audio and video glitching, so we called the cable company with RAGE!

 

2nd actual service call out, and we now have a Samsung cable box. It's flat-black and looks like it was designed in this decade. Thus far, our cable issues have been resolved!

 

Keep this in mind if your cable (especially HD channels) are glitching out, but your internet connection is rock solid. :kat: can now rest in peace watching TV. ;)

 

We were watching Golden Girls on Friday night, paying some homage to another fallen sister. While watching, the OP listed box was glitching every few minutes, so I was pissed and we followed up our prior service call, and someone was out on Sunday. :dance:

 

I'll grab model specs of the Samsung once I get home. Sci Atlanta boxes = Crappy devices.

[tOucan]

Dam Im so confused on why countries do shit so different glad to see your shit fixed. Atleast you would have more channels to pimp, we have 5 channels free to air Australia wide and only 1 paytv provider Australian wide everyone runs the same box hooked up via satalite. I just got my paytv on with every channel theres about 50 all up :icon_laugh: For $110 a month, only reason I got this was to watch NRL, aussie version of NFL. But HD? Forget it. Apparently we dont need it for paytv yet. Atleast our few free to air channels are HD :closedeyes:

[Pic0o]

I think we get about 170+ or so channels, and with HBO package and our internet, our cable is ~ $140 a month. Free TV is about 8-12 channels I believe.

 

We did see some audio issues on the new box, but I was actually playing RDR on the same HDMI cable that the cable box was on and noticed the same audio glitching. Previously I had the consoles either on a different brand of cable, or ran audio over Optical. The cables in question are Rosewill brand of the 10ft length, and I am going to make sure nothing else is a variable.

 

I have been rocking a 6ft Rosewill HDMI cable since I got my PC LCD and had no issue. Considering the thickness of the 10ft cable is almost double the 6ft, I didn't think it'd be a problem.

 

Fun to be had by all. :lol:

 

I still proceed on my testing, as I just caught a glitch watching FX HD. Golden Girls is the new benchmark for glitchy TV. :o

Edited June 12, 2010 by Pic0o

[Pic0o]

Bumping in respect to my cable rants. While tv was keeping it's HD signal fairly reliable since the new box, the last month has been almost complete HD blackout. I got tired of paying for non-deliverables, so we dropped all Cable TV.

 

About 2 years ago, I tried to go internet only with Time Warner, but they fed me some shit about requiring basic cable service, that was about $10 bucks cheaper than the standard cable offerings. Today, I was able to get Internet only, and it dropped my bill down to $65.00. I wanted to share this with anyone else who feels ripped off for Cable TV, wants fast internet, but only has weak DSL plans as an alternative.

[JeT]

I keep getting on promotional deals to keep fees low, but I think when I move again when lease is up in March I'll be doin' the solo pad thing and dropping cable TV. Netflix has their streaming only plan up, so switched over to that.

[Pic0o]

Word. I also visited my buddy to see him rocking a Digital Antenna and getting quite a few of the core channels. I think the line filter was installed today, so I will see what we get with no active cable plan, then try the antenna out if pickings are slim or null.