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New Contributor
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Cisco Explorer 8642HDC/Trio problems
Cox just switched my 2 old HD DVRs to their newer Cisco Explorer 8642HDC. While there are definite advantages (broadband, more HD channels, more disk space) the trio software has definite bugs and problems. The installer found that one of the 2 DVRs stayed stuck on "cnfg" and after an hour of efforts ended up leaving it that way. He said that he had just installed 4 others of these DVRs and 2 of these 8642HDCs did the same thing. That is a 50% failure rate! Hours later the programmers apparently found the problem and updated my software (I got a call from support to see if the update had made a difference) and my bad DVR came alive.
I've only had the new DVRs for 2 days and already found a slew of unnecessary annoyances or problems.Maybe others have found them too and can help me resolve them. I emailed Cox support but did not hear back from them.
1. The guide info screens does not include the 1-5 star ratings] for movies (*****). This really bugs my wife because she grew accustomed to using it to avoid recording movies that have 1 star ratings that then turn out to be a waste of both time and HDD space. The older DVRs (Passport software) had it and so do Cox's competitors. I'm sure the Tribune provider is just not providing that data - but they should be asked to! I think this is essential and a deal breaker for me.
2. The cc button on the black remote does not work. This necessitates going through setting's multiple screens to turn cc on and off. Seems like a programming bug that should be easily fixed.
3. In the guide screen, the remote's "page+" and "page-" buttons are reversed. The + button takes you to lower numbered channels while - does the reverse. A minor problem but seems illogical and easy to fix.
4. The text in the Trio HD guide screens is fuzzy (letters appear fragmented) and difficult to read despite my high resolution HD Samsung and Sony 32" tv sets. The older DVR were connected with HDMI. These new ones are connected with component cables. Don't know if that matters.
5. The trio software will not allow the user to delete a recorded program while it is being viewed. This is unnecessarily annoying and was not the case in the previous dvrs.
(I will not even mention the long absent 30 sec skip ahead button!)
I've also heard from other users of missed scheduled recordings and the like with these 8642HDC/Trio sets which I have not yet encountered in the 2 days I have the DVRs but that would be even more serious.
I sent an email to Cox with these concerns but never heard back.
Looking for advice. Thank you.
ChrisL
Former Moderator
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We certainly value customer feedback and will take these suggestions into consideration for future updates. The fuzzy text issue may get better if you use HDMI cables to connect the boxes. If you still have your HDMI cables it's a simply enough thing to try.
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Coxuser1234
New Contributor
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Thank you very much for replying.
I'll try my HDMI cables.
The star rating for movies is really essential to have. Any idea if and when this will be implemented? I am now also finding it very annoying not to have them.
Because I frequently turn closed captions on and off the non functioning cc key on the remote is also very annoying because it takes so many steps to do it through settings. As an alternative a simple macro capability or code could change that into a single screen click.
Thanks for replying. I'm seriously thinking of switching after years of using Cox for TV, phone and internet.
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ChrisL
Former Moderator
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Feature changes/suggestions can take time so I don't have any estimation of when or if any particular feature will be implemented but we do value all of our customers' feedback. I must admit I'm not particularly familiar with the star feature you mentioned on the previous box, we have Motorola boxes in my area. Do you know which box you were previously using?
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Coxuser1234
New Contributor
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It was a Scientific America HD dvr.
The star ratings (one * to ****) for movies is used in all guides I've seen so far - including Washington Post and other newspaper TV listings. A movie is given a number of stars depending on critics. It appears when you click on info for a movie.
Here is an example (3.5 stars) from the Washington Post website (hope it shows up here)
I realize I used the wrong terminology. I should have caled it a "critic's rating" instead of a star rating. Sorry for the confusion.
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ChrisL
Former Moderator
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That is interesting indeed. Our Motorola boxes don't have this feature that I'm aware of, thanks for sharing.
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Coxuser1234
New Contributor
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Providing a followup for others who might find this thread:
Using the HDMI cables solved the fragmented text visible in the guide. Not sure why the installer did not use them.
Now if Cox could just include the critic's star ratings for movies in the quide and make it easier to turn closed captions on and off I will be a happy camper.
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FairfaxBB
New Contributor
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Same here on the star ratings, they are critical in this home. Second the motion to have this capability restored.
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Coxuser1234
New Contributor
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Until I got this dvr (and now their newer version which uses the same software interface) every other dvr guide has had the starred critics rating. Without it selecting movies from the guide is totally blind.
Critical to have a upgrade that includes the star ratings. I'm even considering moving to another provider if they don't show up soon.
And havig to go through 5 steps to turn closed captions on/off is ridiculous when there is a button for it on the remote that could do it with one click!
Unhappy customer.
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Domino
Valued Contributor III
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Do you even know who provides these "star" movie ratings? A panel of movie critics? A room-full of college students drinking beer and smoking reefer? A chimpanzee bartering for bananas? Without this knowledge, aren't these "stars" sort of useless. Are VOD movies given higher "star" ratings to encourage purchase? I'm not saying that I disagree with your complaint (though moving to another provider because of it may be a bit of an over-reaction.)
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Coxuser1234
New Contributor
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I've used them for years and they happen to be quite useful. Every big city newspaper (Washington Post, NYT, etc.) has them and so does TV guide, etc.
They are from movie critics who earn their livelihood doing this. If inaccurate they would soon fall flat on their faces. I don't use them to buy films (although they could be useful there too) but mainly to record for later watching what is being broadcast for free. Rarely watch anything with less than a 3 star rating.
Academy award nominations and awards are also largely for increasing the movie's earnings but they still serve as a decent guide to better quality films.
Wasting time watching movies that I recorded but turn out to be duds can be frustrating. Since almost everyone else has them that might cause for switching.
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Domino
Valued Contributor III
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Coxuser1234,
Could one reason that Passport has the "star" ratings and Trio doesn't be that Passport gets its data from Rovi, and that Trio gets its data from Tribune Media? Did you ever find out if Tribune Media includes any sort of "star" ratings in its data to Cox?
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Coxuser1234
New Contributor
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I am sure that is the case. Trio is currently not providing it because their contractual agreement with Cox does not include it. I am sure if Cox asked them to provide it they would certainly comply.
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Domino
Valued Contributor III
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Can you think of another DVR IPG that Tribune Media sends data to that contains the "star" ratings?
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alfansome
New Contributor
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I'm in the Orange County area and the program guide supported by ALL of the Motorola boxes that I've used shows the **** ratings for movies.
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Domino
Valued Contributor III
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...and was the guide data provided by Tribune Media, or was it provided by Rovi?
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