Problems with Motorola DCT6412 HD DVR and HDMI
Posted: Sat Dec 05, 2009 12:09 am
I helped my cousin hook up her new LCD a few days ago. She got a Sony KDL-52W5100 1080p and we hooked it to a Sony Blu-ray player and a Motorola DCT6412 phase III cable HD DVR. Both with HDMI.
The Blu-ray player works great, but the Motorola box is a different story. When watching cable HD channels, the TV had a 1/2 in. wide green stripe running down the far right of the screen. The left inch of the screen had a blurred beveled glass looking stripe. After some research on the web, I found the problem to be with the Motorola box and HDMI. You have to pick an output with this box, either 1080i or 720p-no native. Changing to 720p fixed the stripe problem, but now every so often there is a "unsupported format" message. The TV also loses the DVR input sometimes when switching back from the Blu-ray input. We have had to unplug the HDMI from the TV and plug it back in to get it to see the DVR. I imagine turning either the TV or DVR or both off would work too, but have not delved that far.
Using a component instead of HDMI connection would fix all the problems, I'm sure, but she, of course, wants to try to make the HDMI work. I'm also wondering if her buying a TIVoHD box instead of the Motorola is a better solution. I am not too familiar with cable boxes as I have had Directv for so long, but I know there can be problems there also with cards and all. Her cable service is with CableOne, part of Comcast, I think. After playing with the DVR, guide, and remote, I would go with a TIVo box in a heartbeat, if it works. This thing seems like it is 15 years old. TIVo is 5 times the better setup. She is paying $23/mo for DVR and HD and is not enjoying it enough.
The HDMI cables are new, with the sister one on the Blu-ray working great. Could possibly swap out the Moto DVR, but this is not an isolated case with that box. Anyway, the DCT6412 is not getting the job done as far as we are concerned. Just wanted to share the disappointment.
The Blu-ray player works great, but the Motorola box is a different story. When watching cable HD channels, the TV had a 1/2 in. wide green stripe running down the far right of the screen. The left inch of the screen had a blurred beveled glass looking stripe. After some research on the web, I found the problem to be with the Motorola box and HDMI. You have to pick an output with this box, either 1080i or 720p-no native. Changing to 720p fixed the stripe problem, but now every so often there is a "unsupported format" message. The TV also loses the DVR input sometimes when switching back from the Blu-ray input. We have had to unplug the HDMI from the TV and plug it back in to get it to see the DVR. I imagine turning either the TV or DVR or both off would work too, but have not delved that far.
Using a component instead of HDMI connection would fix all the problems, I'm sure, but she, of course, wants to try to make the HDMI work. I'm also wondering if her buying a TIVoHD box instead of the Motorola is a better solution. I am not too familiar with cable boxes as I have had Directv for so long, but I know there can be problems there also with cards and all. Her cable service is with CableOne, part of Comcast, I think. After playing with the DVR, guide, and remote, I would go with a TIVo box in a heartbeat, if it works. This thing seems like it is 15 years old. TIVo is 5 times the better setup. She is paying $23/mo for DVR and HD and is not enjoying it enough.
The HDMI cables are new, with the sister one on the Blu-ray working great. Could possibly swap out the Moto DVR, but this is not an isolated case with that box. Anyway, the DCT6412 is not getting the job done as far as we are concerned. Just wanted to share the disappointment.