SA8300 "chase" inadequacy

Last night, still learning the details of using our new SA8300 DVR, we tried
to "chase" a TV show that I had pre-set the 8300 to record. I found, to my
chagrin, that I could not start watching the show from the beginning and
then "chase" it. I had to start at the "live" point in the recording.

I called Time-Warner tech support and they confirmed that the 8300 did not
have the capability of starting at the beginning of a show previously set to
record, while it is recording. The only way you can do that, I was told, is
to hit the record button during a "live" show, then pause until you want to
start chasing it. Or wait until the show pre-set to be recorded is over and
the recording is complete.

Well, this is highly unpleasant! We have a Panasonic E80 standalone DVR,
which we have been using for over a year to record and time-shift SD
programs. I can set it to record any show, then, if I want, while it is
recording, simply go to that show on the list of recorded programs, hit
PLAY, and it will start from the beginning, as though it was recorded last
week. Isn't this also the way TIVO works?

Have I (and TW tech support) missed some setting somewhere that would allow
me to do what I want to do? If not, hard to imagine why SA built the thing
this way!

mack
austin

Hi, suppose you set a program to record at 8.00 and it is now 8.30. Well, if
you press "List" you'll see the program on your list. Press enter on it and
you ought to be able to watch it from the beginning, best I know and recall.
I'll check this out again. But that is the way to see it from the beginning.
Roger

The 8300 supports two different software/firmware systems: Passport
and SARA. Time Warner uses both of these systems, depending upon
where you are located geographically. For example, here in NYC we
have Passport, but in upstate NY, I think they have SARA. You can
tell for sure by rebooting your box and watching the splash screen.

Passport works like Roger says, below. Program 'chasing' works quite
well. Unfortunately, I've heard that SARA does not work properly for
chasing. I think your best bet is to play the show, starting at the
current position, and fast rewind to the beginning - not a very
satisfactory methodology. SARA users pleas chime in if I've got it
wrong.

-barry

"Roger" wrote:

Hi, suppose you set a program to record at 8.00 and it is now 8.30. Well, if
you press "List" you'll see the program on your list. Press enter on it and
you ought to be able to watch it from the beginning, best I know and recall.
I'll check this out again. But that is the way to see it from the beginning.
Roger

Here is a list of tips and workarounds for the inadequacies of the SA8300HD.
http://www.hdtvoice.com/voice/showthread.php?t=13605
I believe these are for the SARA version which based upon your issue I
believe you have. My SA8300HD uses SARA. Since I have had the box it has
been upgraded several times and keeps getting better so I'm hoping that with
time this issue will be addressed as well. Be patient....


"Mack McKinnon" wrote in
message ...
Last night, still learning the details of using our new SA8300 DVR, we
tried
to "chase" a TV show that I had pre-set the 8300 to record. I found, to
my
chagrin, that I could not start watching the show from the beginning and
then "chase" it. I had to start at the "live" point in the recording.

I called Time-Warner tech support and they confirmed that the 8300 did not
have the capability of starting at the beginning of a show previously set
to
record, while it is recording. The only way you can do that, I was told,
is
to hit the record button during a "live" show, then pause until you want
to
start chasing it. Or wait until the show pre-set to be recorded is over
and
the recording is complete.

Well, this is highly unpleasant! We have a Panasonic E80 standalone DVR,
which we have been using for over a year to record and time-shift SD
programs. I can set it to record any show, then, if I want, while it is
recording, simply go to that show on the list of recorded programs, hit
PLAY, and it will start from the beginning, as though it was recorded last
week. Isn't this also the way TIVO works?

Have I (and TW tech support) missed some setting somewhere that would
allow
me to do what I want to do? If not, hard to imagine why SA built the
thing
this way!

mack
austin

Thanks for the 8300HD list of tips and tricks. You or someone else had
posted the link to it previously and I had printed it out. Now I've had a
week or so to get used to using it. All this box needs is the capability of
allowing you to start watching a recording program from the beginning and
then easily skip around in it and it would be about as good as anyone could
ask at this point in the technology. The quality of the picture, both live
and recorded, from the box is superb.

The Panasonic E80 DVR I have has that capability, so it should not be
something that Scientific Atlanta couldn't easily do. The Panny has, in
addition to fast-forward and reverse, a 1 minute skip-ahead button and also
a time-ahead wizard, into which you put the number of minutes you wish to
move either forward or back in the recording. Exactly what the 8300HD box
needs.

BTW, the universal remote with the 8300 is a good one. I have it programmed
for my receiver, DVD player, TV set and the cable box with volume and mute
buttons working the receiver under all choices and it performs really well.
No problem at all getting it programmed, at least when I actually read all
the instructions.

mack
austin


"halebob" wrote in message
...
Here is a list of tips and workarounds for the inadequacies of the
SA8300HD.
http://www.hdtvoice.com/voice/showthread.php?t=13605
I believe these are for the SARA version which based upon your issue I
believe you have. My SA8300HD uses SARA. Since I have had the box it has
been upgraded several times and keeps getting better so I'm hoping that
with
time this issue will be addressed as well. Be patient....


"Mack McKinnon" wrote in
message ...
Last night, still learning the details of using our new SA8300 DVR, we
tried
to "chase" a TV show that I had pre-set the 8300 to record. I found, to
my
chagrin, that I could not start watching the show from the beginning and
then "chase" it. I had to start at the "live" point in the recording.

I called Time-Warner tech support and they confirmed that the 8300 did
not
have the capability of starting at the beginning of a show previously set
to
record, while it is recording. The only way you can do that, I was told,
is
to hit the record button during a "live" show, then pause until you want
to
start chasing it. Or wait until the show pre-set to be recorded is over
and
the recording is complete.

Well, this is highly unpleasant! We have a Panasonic E80 standalone DVR,
which we have been using for over a year to record and time-shift SD
programs. I can set it to record any show, then, if I want, while it is
recording, simply go to that show on the list of recorded programs, hit
PLAY, and it will start from the beginning, as though it was recorded
last
week. Isn't this also the way TIVO works?

Have I (and TW tech support) missed some setting somewhere that would
allow
me to do what I want to do? If not, hard to imagine why SA built the
thing
this way!

mack
austin

Mack McKinnon ) wrote in alt.tv.tech.hdtv:
Well, this is highly unpleasant! We have a Panasonic E80 standalone DVR,
which we have been using for over a year to record and time-shift SD
programs. I can set it to record any show, then, if I want, while it is
recording, simply go to that show on the list of recorded programs, hit
PLAY, and it will start from the beginning, as though it was recorded last
week. Isn't this also the way TIVO works?

Yes, mostly.

If you start watching a recording, it starts from the beginning. But, if
you stop watching that recording then start it again, it starts from exactly
where you left off, not the beginning.

Recordings still in progress are not treated any differently from "old"
recordings by the TiVo software.

--
Jeff Rife | "If we give peas a chance, won't the lima
| beans feel left out?"
|
| -- Pinky