JP1 Remotes

The Robman · Posted: Wed Jul 30, 2008 12:05 pm Post subject:

The reason I posted that info was because, last time I tried calling Comcast on this, they said that they were going to discontinue all analog channels, thus requiring everyone to upgrade to a digital package. So, while cable is not affected by the broadcast channels switching over to an all digital format, it sounded like Comcast was going to use the opportunity to also switch over to an all digital format, whereas it sounds like this is not the case (at least, for now).
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Please don't PM me with remote questions, post them in the forums so all the experts can help!

jetskier · Joined: 09 Dec 2003 Posts: 287 Location: Nevada

Yeah, understood. It's a good ploy for the cable companies to get people to pay more for a digital settop box rental and programming. Technically, they could turn off the analog at any time, but there are a lot of older folks who have basic cable and don't want to deal with the digital boxes. I picture my wife's g-ma. She's 85 and learning new tricks isn't something she wants to do at this stage of her life. She did finally jump to digital box, but it took some time for her to learn buttons other than channel/volume up/down and power.

Dish is doing this with the MPEG4 HD conversion (Friday 8-1). If you want to keep all your satellite based HD channels and you have a MPEG2 box, you have to upgrade. The good thing it is free. I'm sure they will start push the MPEG4 SD conversion in the next year or two to free up the need bandwidth on the existing birds. It's a big expense to upgrade millions of people. Eastern Arc is starting to roll out for the folks on the east coast.

I put the two d-a boxes in my RV. I just need to build a 12V-5V converter to hardwire into the trailer. The cigarette lighter adapters are too bulky.

vickyg2003 · Posted: Wed Jul 30, 2008 6:37 pm Post subject:

I got my coupons today, does anybody have any reason that I should not buy the Dish DTVPal other than it costs more than the coupon allows? I'm mostly worried about tuner quality, but haven't read any comparrisons. I certainly like what I've read about the features.

jetskier · Joined: 09 Dec 2003 Posts: 287 Location: Nevada

I like my DTVpals so far. The program guide is great and the data updates fairly quickly.

I heard you can get them from Sears now.

I never compared. I just like the Dish guide interface.

vickyg2003 · Posted: Wed Jul 30, 2008 6:54 pm Post subject:

Can you pick up the digital versions of all the channels that you pick up analog?

jetskier · Joined: 09 Dec 2003 Posts: 287 Location: Nevada

It has analog pass through so you can still get the analog channels like you always have.

I think the answer to your question is yes, the digital version is the same or better than the analog. Better being, if it is an HD version of the program, you get the letterbox version. You can change the format by zooming, full screen, etc. This allows the sides of a 16:9 digital broadcast to be cropped to fit a regular 4:3 TV. You also get the subchannels. On our local fox station, they run old shows like TV Land on the sub 2 channel. The NBC station airs a mexican channel completely separate from the main channel. They also each have a 24/7 weather channel so you can get the forecast for your area anytime.

vickyg2003 · Posted: Thu Jul 31, 2008 6:33 am Post subject:

Thanks Jetskier, I went ahead and ordered the boxes.

jetskier · Joined: 09 Dec 2003 Posts: 287 Location: Nevada

Most people think OTA is dead. I have a 10' boom in my attic. My house is 4 years old.

Digital signals will pixelate if they drop for a fraction of a second.

vickyg2003 · Posted: Tue Aug 12, 2008 2:47 am Post subject:

Well I got my DTV Pal today. Overall I'm pleased.

My one complaint is that the analog pass through doesn't work very well. Of my 17 analog stations, only 7 pass through, and the ones I get the clearest without the dtvpal don't come in at all. Since all my favorite channels are broadcasting digitally already, this is not an issue for me. I have noticed that most of the non-English speaking channels are not broadcasting digitally and none of them pass through either. If I could speak the other languages I'd be angry.

With the DTV Pal I get 27 English speaking channels, and they all come in crystal clear. I don't get the shadow nor the annoying line that was a problem for me before. It will be interesting to see how this handles the Sunday interference that gives my analog viewing problems.

The guide is a very nice feature. Its worth the extra $20 that alone.

The Robman · Posted: Tue Aug 12, 2008 3:43 pm Post subject:

Apparently we can add the Apex DT-250 to the list of CECBs that work with ReplayTV.

ElizabethD · Advanced Member Joined: 09 Feb 2004 Posts: 2348

ElizabethD · Advanced Member Joined: 09 Feb 2004 Posts: 2348

jlv · Joined: 14 Feb 2009 Posts: 11

mr_d_p_gumby · Posted: Sat Feb 14, 2009 2:56 am Post subject:

jlv · Joined: 14 Feb 2009 Posts: 11

Darn... I was hoping you tell me I must have messed up creating the RID file from the CM-7000 OEM remote codes you posted. How did you generate them?

I did create a modified RID file for c0144, substituting 'volume up' for 'enter', and it works -- but with one problem.

I've got the fine tuning set to send 3 digits minimum along with send enter. If I'm on channel 441 (44-1) and hit channel-up, the CM-7000 tunes to 442 (44-2) without the pause, so the 'volume up' worked. (in fact, I don't even see the volume-bar from the CM-7000).

However, for channels that are only 2 digits, it isn't working at all. If I'm on 51 (5-1) and I hit channel up, it doesn't switch channels at all. From 51 (5-1), the Replay would be sending 71<enter> to get to 7-1. The CM-7000 displays the info box at the top saying it's still on 5-1, but it doesn't tune to 71 (7-1) at all. It's as if it didn't get any of the digits.

I'm wondering if this may be one of timing params in fine-tuning., but I've not had a chance to look. But, my c1000 is just c0144 with the 'volume-up' code for enter, so I'm surprised at this. I did retest that 071<vol-up> on the CM-7000 remote works, so I'm puzzled.